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President Donald Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleared a significant hurdle Thursday, as the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee voted 11-8 to advance his nomination, setting the stage for a full Senate vote.

Lee Zeldin, an attorney and former U.S. representative for New York's eastern Long Island, earned support from all committee Republicans, with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., as the lone Democrat backing his candidacy.

Zeldin's Political and Professional Background

Zeldin, who served in the New York state legislature before his tenure in the House, has been a steadfast ally of Trump. Throughout Trump's presidency, Zeldin defended him during contentious political battles, including two impeachments. More recently, he worked on U.S.-China policy at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative nonprofit closely aligned with Trump.

Support from Republicans, Criticism from Democrats

EPW Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., praised Zeldin for pledging transparency and collaboration during his confirmation hearing. She also criticized the EPA for allegedly overregulating under previous administrations, which she said hurt small businesses.

"Lee Zeldin is well qualified for the position of administrator and will be an excellent addition to the president's cabinet," Capito stated. "He understands how to build consensus, having represented a district with a wide range of political perspectives."

However, ranking committee Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., cast doubt on Zeldin's willingness or ability to act independently of Trump's deregulatory agenda. Whitehouse pointed to Trump's past directive for the EPA to reconsider its 2009 endangerment finding, which declared greenhouse gases pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

"The Trump agenda, heavily funded by fossil fuel interests, seeks to dismantle climate protections to benefit big oil donors," Whitehouse said. "Zeldin has shown no signs that he will stand up to this political juggernaut."

Outlook for Senate Confirmation

The full Senate must now decide whether Zeldin will lead the EPA. If confirmed, he will oversee critical environmental policies, including those governing emissions, water quality, and industrial regulation. His confirmation process will likely test the chamber’s partisan dynamics as lawmakers weigh his promises of collaboration against concerns about his alignment with Trump's policies.