Trump veterans, Zeldin aides come aboard at EPA

By Kevin Bogardus | 01/22/2025 04:45 PM EST

The team has a big job ahead as they mount a deregulatory drive to pull back environmental rules.

EPA headquarters.

EPA headquarters in Washington. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Veterans of the first Trump administration are returning to EPA, joined by longtime aides to Lee Zeldin, the president’s nominee to be agency administrator.

An Wednesday internal email obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News announced to staff 20 members of President Donald Trump’s leadership team at EPA. The roster includes a mix of experience of prior service at the agency as well as in Congress and the campaign trail with Zeldin, a former New York Republican congressman.

The crew has a big job ahead as they mount a deregulatory drive to pull back environmental rules crafted by the Biden administration and work to streamline an agency that has seen billions of dollars in additional funding.

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“This week, we welcome to EPA members of President Trump’s leadership team,” said acting Administrator James Payne in the email. “I look forward to working closely with them as they transition into the agency.”

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