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.

Under Zeldin's leadership, the EPA has shifted focus toward what agency statements describe as efficient enforcement and legal compliance, including halting certain greenhouse-gas reduction initiatives and intervening in state-level actions deemed inconsistent with federal law.

More than 150 EPA staff members sent a letter in summer 2026 expressing concerns about partisanship and reductions in the research division, according to The New Yorker. The agency placed 144 signatories on administrative leave, with Zeldin announcing a zero-tolerance policy for actions undermining the administration's agenda, as reported by Just the News.

Internal EPA emails obtained by E&E News, referenced in The New Yorker, indicated the letter raised no ethical concerns and that employee speech is protected under agency policy.

" Zeldin's prior experience includes serving in the New York State Senate and U.S. House, representing a Long Island district where he worked on local issues like protecting Long Island Sound, per biographical details in The New Yorker. National environmental groups gave him low ratings during his congressional tenure, while Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, recalled positive collaboration on local efforts, as quoted in The New Yorker.

Former Democratic congressman Steve Israel noted Zeldin voted against broader environmental measures nationally while highlighting local achievements, according to The New Yorker. No additional comments from DeLauro or other committee members on the budget specifics were detailed in the available sources as of the hearing date.