Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin faced an uncomfortable confrontation on CNN Sunday, August 3, when host Katie Hunt presented video evidence of his previous stance on climate change, directly contradicting his current position as President Donald Trump’s environment chief.
The exchange occurred during Hunt’s interview on “State of the Union,” following Zeldin’s announcement that the EPA would reverse its 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to human health. Hunt questioned Zeldin about his apparent skepticism toward the scientific consensus on manmade climate change as the primary driver of global warming.
Zeldin responded defensively, suggesting Hunt was attempting to twist his words. He maintained that the EPA derives its authority from statutory law and argued the agency had overstepped its bounds by making determinations that should fall under congressional jurisdiction.
Hunt then noted that Zeldin sounded considerably different from his congressional days and played a 2016 video clip showing his previous environmental positions. In the footage, the former New York Congressman acknowledged climate change and advocated for environmental stewardship.
The 2016 clip revealed Zeldin stating that “Our climate is changing. We need to do more to be better stewards.” In the same remarks, he called for reducing fossil fuel dependence, promoting environmental responsibility, and pursuing alternative clean energy sources.
When Hunt asked what had changed for him, Zeldin paused before responding. He claimed nothing had changed, explaining that climate has always been changing naturally. He pivoted to emphasize domestic energy production, arguing against reliance on foreign energy sources and advocating for American energy dominance.
As a congressman representing New York, Zeldin had previously expressed support for the scientific consensus linking greenhouse gases to climate change. His current role as EPA Administrator represents a significant shift from those earlier positions on environmental policy and climate science.
The policy reversal Zeldin announced has broader implications for U.S. climate commitments. Under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, more than 194 nations pledged to limit global average temperature increases below 34.7 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent catastrophic climate impacts.
Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Accords in 2017, characterizing them as unfair to American interests. The Biden administration rejoined the agreement in 2021, but Trump has again initiated withdrawal proceedings.
On his inauguration day, Trump directed the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to submit a formal withdrawal notice through an executive order titled “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements.” This action signals the administration’s broader retreat from multilateral climate commitments.
The 2009 EPA endangerment finding that Zeldin reversed served as the scientific foundation for federal greenhouse gas regulations. The determination concluded that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare through their contribution to climate change.
Zeldin’s current position represents a fundamental departure from established climate science and his own previous statements as an elected official. The CNN interview highlighted this transformation, with Hunt’s questioning exposing the contradiction between his past and present positions on environmental policy.
The EPA’s reversal of the endangerment finding could have significant regulatory implications for federal climate policy and greenhouse gas oversight. This action aligns with the administration’s broader approach to environmental regulation and energy policy priorities.