Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin faced intense scrutiny during a CNN interview Sunday after being confronted with his past statements supporting climate action, following his agency’s recent reversal of a key environmental determination. The former New York congressman appeared visibly uncomfortable when host Katie Hunt played clips of his 2016 remarks that directly contradicted his current position on greenhouse gas emissions.
On Tuesday, Zeldin announced that the EPA would reverse its 2009 finding that greenhouse emissions pose a threat to human health. During the State of the Union interview, Hunt questioned Zeldin about his skeptical stance toward the scientific consensus on manmade climate change drivers.
When Hunt suggested Zeldin sounded skeptical of the overall scientific consensus, the EPA chief responded defensively, indicating that Hunt was trying to twist his words. Zeldin argued that the agency derives its power from what the law states, suggesting the EPA had overstepped its bounds by making determinations that should be made by Congress.
The interview took a dramatic turn when Hunt noted that Zeldin sounded different from his congressional days and played a 2016 video clip. In the footage, Zeldin expressed support for environmental stewardship and alternative energy sources. “The key is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, to become more environmentally friendly and pursue more alternative energy, clean and green energy,” he stated in the clip.
After Hunt asked what had changed for him, Zeldin paused for four seconds before responding. He indicated that nothing had changed and that the climate has always been changing. Zeldin pivoted to energy policy, stating that the country should not rely on foreign energy sources and should instead pursue energy dominance domestically.
The policy reversal represents a significant shift from the Obama administration’s environmental stance. The 2009 EPA determination that greenhouse gases threaten human health served as a foundation for numerous climate regulations over the past decade and a half.
Zeldin’s appointment as EPA Administrator came after his unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial campaign in New York against Governor Kathy Hochul. During that race, Zeldin focused primarily on crime issues and bail reform rather than environmental policy. He had served as a congressman representing Long Island before running for governor.
The EPA’s decision aligns with broader Trump administration policies on environmental regulations. President Trump previously withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement during his first term in 2017, calling it an unfair deal for America. The Biden administration rejoined the accords in 2021, but Trump has again initiated withdrawal proceedings.
On his second inauguration day, Trump charged the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations with submitting formal notice of withdrawal from international environmental agreements under an executive order titled “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements.”
The Paris Climate Agreement involves more than 194 sovereign states pledging to work toward keeping global average temperatures below specific thresholds to avoid catastrophic impacts of manmade climate change. The accord represents one of the most comprehensive international efforts to address global warming.
Zeldin’s transformation from a congressman who supported reducing fossil fuel reliance to an EPA administrator reversing greenhouse gas determinations illustrates the policy shifts occurring within the Trump administration’s environmental approach. His congressional record showed support for the scientific consensus that greenhouse gases cause climate change, making his current position a notable departure.
The CNN interview highlighted the challenges facing Trump administration officials who must defend policy positions that may conflict with their previous statements. Zeldin’s visible discomfort during the questioning and his lengthy pause before responding suggested the difficulty in reconciling his past and present positions on climate policy.
The EPA’s regulatory reversal will likely face legal challenges from environmental groups and states that support maintaining greenhouse gas regulations. The agency’s 2009 determination served as the scientific foundation for numerous climate-related rules and enforcement actions over the past 15 years.
