This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin wrapped up congressional testimony before three committees regarding EPA’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. Throughout all three hearings, Administrator Zeldin corrected many absurd claims from congressional Democrats attempting to dismiss or outright lie about the agency’s historic achievements since President Trump entered office.
Administrator Zeldin testified in front of House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Here are five things to know from Administrator Zeldin’s congressional testimony:
On Monday, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) asked Administrator Zeldin to justify EPA’s actions since President Trump assumed office in January 2025. The Administrator cited his obligation to follow the law, including abiding by Section 202 of the Clean Air Act, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, West Virginia v. EPA, and Michigan v. EPA. Though Rep. DeLauro was unaware of these significant legal requirements that guide the agency’s actions, the Trump EPA will always adhere to the best available reading of federal statute without apology or regret.
On Wednesday, Administrator Zeldin faced off against Senator Sheldon Whiteclub, whose pitiful attempt at a math lecture went horribly wrong. Once Senator Whiteclub realized Administrator Zeldin actually understood the math of unreliable offshore wind energy versus reliable baseload power plants, he attempted to dodge and filibuster his way through his 5 minutes of questioning time.
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, was passed by Congress on July 4, 2025, and delivered immediate savings to taxpayers across the country through the recission of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), streamlined permitting so we can start building again and investing in AI, and prioritization of baseload power to unleash American energy dominance. When Representative Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) asked Administrator Zeldin if he would have voted for the OBBB if he was in Congress, Administrator Zeldin enthusiastically said he would have because it delivered incredible economic wins to the American people and unlocked domestic energy resources that were strangled under the previous Administration.
Under Administrator Zeldin’s leadership, EPA is committed to being exceptional stewards of taxpayer dollars. On Tuesday, Representative Rob Menendez (D-NJ-08) was unable to defend the poor management and wasteful spending of American tax dollars under the Biden Administration. He appeared visibly upset when referencing Administrator Zeldin’s cancellation of roughly $30 billion in wasteful grants and contracts across the agency, including the $27 billion in GGRF money riddled with self-dealing, conflicts of interest, unqualified recipients, and intentionally reduced government oversight. Courtesy of the Trump EPA, the days of colossally wasteful spending and subjecting hard-earned American tax dollars to waste and abuse are over.
Despite this week’s attempts from some members of Congress to claim otherwise, Administrator Zeldin demonstrated the agency’s ability to protect human health and the environment and deliver clean air, land, and water to all Americans, while also growing our economy. It no longer has to be a binary choice. During his testimony, Administrator Zeldin was proud to pull from the list of 500 environmental accomplishments delivered by the Trump Administration during President Trump’s first year back in the White House. These accomplishments are just a fraction of the agency’s incredible efforts, as we also work to unleash American energy dominance, advance cooperative federalism, make America the AI capital of the world, and revitalize our domestic auto manufacturing industry.
