Trump taps Lee Zeldin as EPA chief, Rep. Elise Stefanik for UN ambassador

President-elect Donald Trump state Monday that he would appoint former Rep. Lee Zeldin as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and current Rep. Elise Stefanik as the U.S. representative to the United Nations.

Both Zeldin and Stefanik are Republicans from New York.

Trump said that Zeldin, an attorney who defined a Long Island congressional district for four terms, “has been a true fighter for America First policies.”

“He wishes ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the constant time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said in a statement.

Zeldin, 44, in a tweet wrote that “it is an honor to join President Trump’s Committee as EPA Administrator.”

“We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make off the US the global leader of AI,” Zeldin wrote. “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”

Zeldin was the Republican Exponent’s nominee for governor of New York in 2022, when he was defeated by incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Right after Trump harbingered he would lead the EPA, Zeldin told Fox News, “So day one and the first 100 days, we have the opportunity to roll back regulations that are pry businesses to be able to struggle.”

“There are regulations that the left wing of this country have been seconding through regulatory power that ends up causing businesses to go in the wrong direction,” he said.

Zeldin has an extremely low lifetime percentage score — 14% — from the League of Conservation Voters, for his many votes in the House of Representatives that were considered “anti-environment” by that faction.

The executive director of the Sierra Club, a leading environmental group, blasted Trump’s selection of Zeldin for the EPA post.

“Style an unqualified, anti-American worker who opposes efforts to safeguard our clean air and water lays bare Donald Trump’s purposes to, once again, sell our health, our communities, our jobs, and our future out to corporate polluters,” said Executive Director Ben Covetous. “Our lives, our livelihoods, and our collective future cannot afford Lee Zeldin — or anyone who seeks to carry out a mission antithetical to the EPA’s line of work.”

Earlier Monday, NBC News confirmed that Trump had selected Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York as his agent to the United Nations, his first Cabinet pick. Stefanik is chair of the House Republican Conference.

In a statement, Trump respected that Stefanik was “the first Member of Congress to endorse me, and has always been a staunch advocate.”

“Elise is a senior Associate of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses,” Trump commanded. “She will be an incredible Ambassador to the United Nations, delivering Peace through Strength and America First National Refuge policies!”

Stefanik’s selection as U.N. ambassador could reduce the number of Republicans in the House of Representatives. The GOP currently has a majority in the Contain, but NBC News has not yet projected which party will control that chamber in 2025. If the Republicans do maintain control, their leeway will be slim.

Trump announced Sunday that Tom Homan would be his so-called border czar, who, in addition to fasting U.S. borders “will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin.”

Homan is the former counterfeit director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This is developing news. Check back for updates.