EPA Administrator Zeldin Defends FY 2027 Budget in House Appropriations Hearing

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin presented the agency's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal during a House Appropriations Committee hearing, emphasizing adherence to federal statutes and Supreme Court precedents. The proposal includes reductions in funding for certain regulatory programs, with Zeldin citing Section 202 of the Clean Air Act, which he noted does not explicitly address global climate change.

Zeldin referenced recent Supreme Court decisions, including Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and the major questions doctrine, as guiding the agency's approach to limiting what he described as regulatory overreach.

During the hearing, Zeldin engaged in an exchange with Rep. Rosa DeLauro over the budget's implications for climate policy and enforcement. " Zeldin responded, "Following the law. Section 202 of the Clean Air Act. " according to a transcript reported by the New York Post.

" as detailed in coverage by the Washington Examiner. DeLauro directed Zeldin to stop and answer questions, later saying, "I don’t have to listen to this BS," per Fox News reporting.

The discussion extended to enforcement actions, with DeLauro raising concerns about the agency's handling of polluters and mentioning glyphosate, the active ingredient in the pesticide Roundup. Zeldin advised against drinking it, prompting DeLauro to reply, "Maybe you should try doing that," as quoted in Just the News.

Following the hearing, Zeldin posted on X, "Nothing infuriates an uninformed Congressional Dem more than when they realize they voluntarily triggered a debate with someone who actually knows what they are talking about, reads federal statute and adheres to Supreme Court precedent," according to the New York Post.

He also stated on X that DeLauro's remark amounted to instructing him to kill himself. DeLauro's office did not respond to requests for comment, as noted in multiple outlets including the New York Post.