EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Inspired by Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, expressed his enthusiasm after attending the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade. He even mentioned to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses that he wished he could rejoin the military.
After the parade, Zeldin shared, “I stepped out of the grandstand with Secretary Hegses and told him, ‘That was incredible. I really regret leaving the military.'” Hegses appeared to be open to the idea, telling Zeldin, “I could get you back in soon.” They continued on their way, seemingly contemplating the idea.
The parade coincided with the Army’s birthday on June 14, 2025, which also happened to be President Trump’s 79th birthday.
During the event, a massive crowd of hundreds of thousands gathered in the nation’s capital to witness over 6,000 troops along with various military vehicles and aircraft pass by. The celebration, marking the army’s establishment just a year before the Declaration of Independence, included performers dressed in revolutionary war attire playing drums and fife.
Other military personnel showcased uniforms from different eras, including the Civil War and World Wars. The Army’s Golden Knights parachute team made an impressive appearance near the White House.
Reflecting on the parade, Zeldin noted, “A lot of what I learned in the military influences my current role. I remember the Army values: leadership, loyalty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage,” which he emphasized during his service.
Zeldin has a significant military background, serving 22 years in total, both actively and in the reserves, before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He mused about the differences in perspectives between being single and then having a family, recalling how he now thinks of his wife and twin daughters during parachute jumps.
After the parade, Trump delivered remarks celebrating the Army as, in his words, “the greatest, fierce, brave combat force ever to walk the face of this earth.”
