WASHINGTON — Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin moved a step closer to confirmation as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency after a Senate committee voted Thursday to recommend that the full Senate approve his nomination.

I believe that climate change is real,” Zeldin said, adding that he would work to “ensure we are protecting our environment, while also protecting our economy.”

U.S. Senate committees on Thursday approved President Donald Trump's choices to run energy and environmental policy - officials who, if backed by the full Senate, will seek to maximize fossil fuel output and scrap chunks of climate policy.

Zeldin will appear Thursday before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for his confirmation hearing to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is questioning the nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, in a confirmation hearing Thursday.

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, Donald Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, will appear before the Senate Environment Committee on Thursday morning around 10:00 a.m. Zeldin, an Army Reserve officer,

Mr. Zeldin, a Trump loyalist, would be charged with dismantling climate rules and perhaps the agency itself. He faced questions from the Senate Thursday.

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Senate Committee hearing on the nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Lee Zeldin is that advocate. During his tenure in state and federal ... Having had the opportunity to serve with Zeldin in the New York state Senate, I have seen firsthand his incomparable integrity, exceptional work ethic, ability to deliver results ...

The Senate's environmental committee questioned former congressman on his views on climate change and fossil fuels. Zeldin has little experience heading an agen

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Republican former congressman Lee Zeldin to head the country's Environmental Protection Agency. A key appointment in Trump's climate agenda-- which includes boosting fossil fuel expansion and rolling back environmental regulation-- is Lee Zeldin,