EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has made headlines throughout July for a series of actions that represent a clear shift in national environmental policy. Zeldin has described himself as a climate realist and while he stops short of denying climate change, he has aggressively moved to dismantle environmental programs and is urging the White House to overturn the endangerment finding. That is the foundational legal precedent requiring the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases based on the Clean Air Act’s public health mandate. This move is seen as a critical effort to redefine, and potentially reduce, the federal government’s obligations to address climate change.

Under Zeldin’s leadership, the EPA has been criticized for removing and isolating climate change information from public-facing websites, including stripping the health and infrastructure connections from its messaging. While some areas of the EPA climate change site remain, large swathes of integrated data and references have disappeared. Experts from organizations like the Union of Concerned Scientists argue that this goes beyond information removal and threatens to undercut the scientific, legal, and economic bases for future policy. Concerns have been raised that propaganda could fill the void left by departing scientific information, leaving the public uncertain about what is real or important as it relates to the environment.

Zeldin’s tenure has also been marked by substantial cuts to research and staffing. A recent thirty percent cut to science and technology programs fits the broader administration goal of shrinking the EPA in scope and budget. High-profile layoffs have prompted union demands and accusations that the agency is putting public trust and scientific integrity at risk to benefit certain industries. In North Carolina, the EPA revoked funding for several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) research projects. Environmental advocates warn that these actions threaten to undermine public health protections and efforts to hold polluters accountable, particularly related to “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

Despite this, Zeldin recently announced plans to update effluent limitations guidelines for power generation units, extending compliance deadlines and opening the door to further regulatory flexibility for electric utilities. The announcement coincides with broader efforts to promote reliable and affordable power, pivoting away from renewables and rolling back support for clean energy projects with legislation that curbs tax credits and imposes new taxes on solar and wind projects reliant on foreign components. These changes are closely tied to President Trump’s legislative priorities, including a new bill that elevates support for the coal and nuclear sectors.

These actions and restructuring moves reflect a broad redefinition of the EPA’s role in public policy—a process marked by controversy, employee dissent, and growing concern among scientists and advocates about the long-term impacts on environmental governance in the United States.

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