Energy Outlook

By: Jacob Kim

Lee Zeldin’s appointment as EPA Administrator might just be the worst thing to happen to the environment in years. After telling the Senate during his confirmation hearings that climate change is an urgent issue, he has now completely reversed course—aligning himself with the same rhetoric that has long undermined serious climate action.

Zeldin’s latest statements sound eerily familiar: he’s questioning climate science, echoing Trump’s “hoax” claims, and framing environmental policy as an attack on the economy rather than a necessary response to an existential threat. It’s the same tired playbook—ignore the science, dismiss the consequences, and prioritize short-term profit over long-term survival.

“Energy Dominance” at Any Cost

One of Zeldin’s first big moves? Restoring “American energy dominance.” That’s code for deregulating fossil fuels and expanding domestic oil and gas production, all while claiming it’s somehow “best for the environment.” The reality? More drilling, more emissions, and more destruction of our already fragile ecosystems.

His plan also includes permitting reform—stripping down environmental regulations to fast-track industrial projects that would otherwise have to prove they don’t wreck the air, water, and land. By removing these safeguards, Zeldin is setting the stage for unchecked pollution, all in the name of corporate profits.

The Gas-Powered Delusion

Zeldin also rails against efforts to transition to cleaner energy, claiming that policies encouraging electric vehicles are part of a left-wing agenda. Never mind the fact that EV adoption is one of the most effective ways to cut emissions from transportation—one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Zeldin wants Americans to keep burning fossil fuels, and he’s willing to stall progress in the name of “choice” while ignoring the climate crisis barreling toward us.

Science Without the “Bias”

Perhaps most disturbing is Zeldin’s suggestion that environmental science should be purged of so-called “left-wing bias.” What does that actually mean? Does it mean dismissing decades of peer-reviewed climate research? Silencing experts who warn about rising sea levels, wildfires, and extreme weather? Bending data to fit a political agenda? If Zeldin’s past remarks are any indication, he wants an EPA that serves polluters—not the planet.

The Bottom Line

Lee Zeldin is not here to protect the environment—he’s here to gut the very agency tasked with defending it. His policies will accelerate climate change, poison our air and water, and set back environmental progress for years. The U.S. needs real leadership to confront the climate crisis, but under Zeldin’s EPA, we’re going in the exact opposite direction.

It’s not just bad policy. It’s reckless, dangerous, and—if left unchecked—catastrophic.