Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Calls for EPA Director’s Resignation

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has urged Environmental Protection Agency Director Lee Zeldin to resign, adding pressure from Democrats to remove figures from Trump’s administration.

On X, Whitehouse stated, “Liar Lee Zeldin deceived Congress, the courts, and the American people. I call on him to leave.”

During a Senate address, he expressed frustration about Zeldin’s actions, saying, “Zeldin and his band of DOGE boys dismantled subsidy programs based on personal biases rather than legitimate assessments. He hasn’t been honest under oath, and that’s why I’m demanding his resignation today. If he can’t tell Congress the truth, can anyone at the EPA trust him? Is it acceptable to lie for the benefit of big polluters?”

Whitehouse’s appeal for Zeldin’s resignation highlights a growing trend among Democrats who are targeting Trump-era officials with calls for accountability. This includes Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) as well as potential impeachment actions against several officials like Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

In the context of climate policy, Zeldin has become a pivotal figure in Trump’s deregulatory approach. Back in February, he eliminated an Obama-era study concerning environmental dangers, deeming it “the largest act of deregulation in American history.” He argued that it justified numerous regulations costing taxpayers over $1 trillion. The White House praised this move as a mechanism to ease federal emissions regulations, claiming it would save Americans $1.3 trillion.

A few days later, Zeldin rolled back certain Biden administration requirements on mercury and air toxins for coal and oil power plants, contending that the EPA could maintain economic growth while ensuring safety and environmental health. He characterized the repeal as a termination of the Democrats’ push for “clean coal.”