Lee Zeldin

Lee Michael Zeldin (born January 30, 1980) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since January 2025. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023, as well as in the New York State Senate, representing the 3rd Senate district from 2011 to 2014. He is a member of the Republican Party. A close ally of President Donald Trump, Zeldin prominently defended Trump during his first impeachment. Zeldin was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 2022. Although he lost the election to incumbent governor Kathy Hochul, it was the best Republican performance in a New York gubernatorial election since 2002, and the closest since 1994. In 2025, Zeldin became the administrator of the EPA as part of the second administration of President Trump and proposed major deregulation actions at the agency.