Budget Hearing Tensions Rise Between EPA Chief and Lawmaker
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin criticized Rep. Rosa DeLauro on Monday, labeling her as “uninformed” after she faced significant backlash for suggesting that herbicides were a topic of discussion during contentious Congressional budget hearings.
DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut with distinctive purple hair, claimed that Zeldin’s budget proposal resembled a “climate change denier’s manifesto.” She pressed him to defend the Environmental Protection Agency’s commitment to “The Duty to Protect Americans from Climate Change.” However, Zeldin, who previously served as a Republican congressman from New York, did not respond directly to her demand.
“I abide by the law,” Zeldin stated, referencing Section 202 of the Clean Air Act and questioning where it mentions global climate change.
DeLauro, 83, remained silent during this exchange.
“Are you familiar with the Roper Bright case?” Zeldin asked, which left DeLauro at a loss. Although he pointed out her lack of knowledge, she denied his claims that he could dismiss climate change as non-existent and called it a “hoax,” expressing frustration with the current administration.
“I understand your frustration, but you don’t know what Roper-Bright is. Do you even grasp the key policies?” Zeldin challenged her, emphasizing that, as a congressperson, she should be informed.
As Zeldin discussed additional critical Supreme Court cases, DeLauro seemed caught off guard. She reacted strongly, reminding him that he was present to request funding from Congress. “So please stop and answer our questions!” she shouted, gesturing toward the Trump administration officials.
Zeldin accused DeLauro of merely wanting to dominate the conversation without being well-versed in federal law.
“You don’t have to listen to this nonsense!” DeLauro fumed.
“Nonsense? Do you think I fabricated these issues?” Zeldin retorted.
“Yes, I think you’ve made up a lot of things,” DeLauro replied.
After the heated exchange, DeLauro went on to critique the Trump EPA for being ineffective against polluters. Zeldin opened his binder to compare enforcement actions from the Trump and Biden administrations, but DeLauro interjected with a mention of “glyphosate,” the main ingredient in the pesticide Roundup.
Zeldin advised lawmakers to avoid consuming anything that might contain glyphosate, to which DeLauro quipped, “Maybe you should try that.”
“Nothing frustrates uninformed Democrats more than realizing they’ve sparked a debate with someone who genuinely understands the issues and respects federal law,” Zeldin later shared on social media, reflecting on the hearing.
He described DeLauro’s behavior as remarkable, adding that she seemingly implied that one should resort to extreme measures when out of constructive dialogue.
As of now, DeLauro’s office has not provided a response to inquiries regarding the incident.
