Lee Zeldin Grills Democrats on EPA Powers in Explosive Clean Air Act Clash

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin defended the Trump administration’s push to dramatically reduce the agency’s budget while challenging long-standing interpretations of the Clean Air Act during a heated exchange on Capitol Hill.

Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee, Zeldin argued that the EPA does not have unlimited authority to regulate climate policy without explicit authorization from Congress. He pointed to recent Supreme Court rulings, including the overturning of Chevron deference and the major questions doctrine, as major legal shifts restricting federal agencies from expanding their powers beyond what lawmakers clearly intended.

The tense debate centered on whether the Clean Air Act grants the EPA authority to combat global climate change, with Zeldin insisting the law’s text does not explicitly provide that power. He also criticized the legal reasoning behind the agency’s 2009 endangerment finding, arguing it relied on broad assumptions and administrative overreach.

The exchange highlights the growing battle over climate regulations, executive authority, and the future role of federal agencies under the Trump administration.

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