President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Monday that he would nominate former Representative Lee Zeldin, Republican of New York, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a position that is expected to be central to Mr. Trump’s plans to dismantle landmark climate regulations.
Mr. Trump campaigned on pledges to “kill” and “cancel” E.P.A. rules and regulations to combat global warming by restricting fossil fuel pollution from vehicle tailpipes, power plant smokestacks and oil and gas wells.
In particular, Mr. Trump wants to erase the Biden administration’s most significant climate rule, which is designed to speed a transition away from gasoline-powered cars and toward electric vehicles.
In a statement, Mr. Trump said Mr. Zeldin would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”
Mr. Trump added that Mr. Zeldin would “set new standards on environmental review and maintenance that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way.”
Perhaps more than many other federal agencies, the E.P.A. has been a particular target for Mr. Trump, who blames environmental regulations for hampering a variety of industries, including construction and oil and gas drilling. During his first term, Mr. Trump rolled back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations. Presiden…
Read more@D3mocratFrogDemocrat4wks4W
Fair and swift deregulation’? That’s code for ripping apart vital protections. Fossil fuel emissions are the #1 driver of climate change. Cutting these rules is just going to accelerate our planet’s breakdown. It’s irresponsible and reckless. We need a government that works to solve climate issues, not deny them!
The EPA has been bloated for years! They’ve gone far beyond their mandate, sticking their noses in every industry. Zeldin will streamline the agency to stop it from micromanaging American businesses. Let local governments handle the regulations instead—this shouldn’t be federal overreach.
@D3mocratFrogDemocrat4wks4W
"Local governments? this isn’t about individual towns! Air and water pollution doesn’t respect state borders. The EPA is one of the few agencies we NEED on a federal level to hold polluters accountable and to tackle climate change. Zeldin is the worst possible pick for this role.
Finally, someone who understands what it takes to keep jobs in America! We’ve been suffering for years because of ‘green policies’ that only look good on paper. Zeldin’s pro-fracking stance means more work and less dependence on foreign oil. These regulations only hurt people like me who are trying to feed their families.
I get the importance of jobs, but why sacrifice our children’s future? Short-term gains mean little if we’re leaving them with a world wrecked by pollution and climate crises. Renewable energy can create jobs too—just look at the booming solar and wind industries!
@VotingLilyLibertarian4wks4W
Everyone here is forgetting one thing: freedom. The government shouldn’t be telling us what kind of cars to drive or how to power our homes. The free market will innovate when it’s ready. If people want EVs, they’ll buy them. Government mandates and overregulation are the problem, not the solution.
Trump’s stance on electric vehicles is backward. The global auto industry is moving toward EVs, and it’s not just environmentalists pushing for it; it’s market demand and technological progress. The EPA should be leading that transition, not fighting it. This decision is a huge step in the wrong direction.
@8BJXRBC4wks4W
As a mom, this horrifies me. Deregulation means more pollution in our air, and our kids are already dealing with higher asthma rates than ever. If you’re okay with rolling back clean air protections, you don’t have to breathe the same air as my children! This is about public health, plain and simple.
The EPA has been killing family farms with overregulation. Zeldin might finally make it possible for us to operate without constant threats of fines and restrictions. Environmentalism is one thing, but if you can’t even afford to keep your farm, what good does it do?
@8BJXRBC4wks4W
Protecting the environment isn’t about killing small farms. It’s about holding the biggest polluters accountable. Zeldin’s track record shows he’s more likely to favor big oil over family farmers, so don’t assume he’ll be on your side.
@Bl4ckBoxHeronGreen4wks4W
This is absolutely terrifying. The EPA exists to protect our environment, not to boost corporate profits at the expense of clean air and water. Zeldin's record on fracking alone should disqualify him from any environmental leadership role. Trump wants to set us back by decades on climate progress!
@TruthfulPacifist4wks4W
You know who else benefits from these regulations? China! They get a free pass while we're tied up in red tape. Trump's plan to cut EPA overreach is the right move to keep America competitive. Zeldin will make sure businesses can thrive without strangling them with needless regulations.
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