Lee Zeldin
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Lee Michael Zeldin was born in January 1980 in East Meadow, New York. He earned an undergraduate degree in political science from the University at Albany and later received a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School.
Zeldin received an Army ROTC commission as a second lieutenant and served four years in the United States Army, first in the Military Intelligence Corps. He was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He went on to serve as a prosecutor in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as a military magistrate. He transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserve, where he still serves with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Zeldin began the practice of law as an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and then began a private law practice. He served four years as a member of the New York Senate. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 and retained the seat by winning reelection. He ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York.
Zeldin was nominated by President Donald Trump in November 2024 to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Senate confirmed him, and he was sworn into office in January 2025.
Zeldin is married to Diana, and they have identical twin daughters. He is Jewish, and his wife is Mormon.
In the News…
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin discussed 2027 funding for his agency, a request that is less than half of what was appropriated for 2026, before the House Appropriations subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. He also spoke about the basis on which environmental decisions are made.
During questioning, Administrator Zeldin pointed out that Section 202 of the Clean Air Act does not address climate change. He also cited statutory limits and court precedents, including Loper Bright v. Raimondo, that order the EPA to follow the law and not make broad policy decisions.
Glyphosate also came up in the discussion, a chemical over which the Supreme Court just heard a case regarding the EPA’s pesticide labeling and whether it preempts state-laws regarding failure-to-warn.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Administrator Zeldin today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Lee Zeldin, Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20460
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