I believe that climate change is real,” Zeldin said, adding that he would work to “ensure we are protecting our environment, while also protecting our economy.”

Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency struggled to answer straightforward questions about science. At his confirmation hearing on Thursday, former Rep. Lee Zeldin faced scrutiny of his limited environmental experience.

GOP former House member Lee Zeldin, picked to be EPA administrator, pledged strict interpretation of the country's environmental laws.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head up the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, emphasized accountability during hours of testimony Thursday.

Sheldon Whitehouse, Senate Environment and Public ... leading Markey to suggest present-day Lee Zeldin doesn’t agree with 2016 Lee Zeldin. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., brought up constituents ...

Mr. Zeldin, a Trump loyalist, would be charged with dismantling climate rules and perhaps the agency itself. He faced questions from the Senate Thursday.

This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

Lee Zeldin highlighted his plan to balance environmental and economic concerns and said working on PFAS passive receiver issues would be on his to-do list if he is confirmed.

Throughout the hearing, Lee Zeldin underscored the importance of protecting the environment without hindering economic development. He stated, "We can, and we must, protect our precious environment without suffocating the economy.

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Trump's picks to lead four federal agencies testified without the flashes of anger that marked Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi's earlier showdowns.