Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Inquires About AFPI’s Role in EPA’s Decision
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, has reached out to the American First Policy Institute (AFPI) for further information regarding its involvement in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) retraction of findings related to environmental dangers established during the Obama administration.
On September 16th, Whitehouse, who is part of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, addressed a letter to AFPI’s interim president Greg Sindelar. He expressed concerns about the organization’s potential influence on the EPA’s decision to withdraw these significant findings. Whitehouse argued that this retraction could weaken the federal government’s efforts to combat climate pollution and marks an unexpected deviation from long-standing legal principles, extensive scientific research, and public health standards.
Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator, referred to the danger discovery as the “Holy Grail of Climate Change Religion,” indicating its importance in justifying over $1 trillion in regulations.
The White House noted that AFPI had praised the removal of these danger findings, labeling them as “the cornerstone of the radical climate agenda.”
“Given the billions being spent by polluting industry interests and potential conflicts of interest, the public deserves transparency regarding any behind-the-scenes efforts to sway this decision,” the White House commented in their correspondence to AFPI.
The White House specifically requested a considerable volume of communications from AFPI, encompassing:
- Internal communications
- External communications with administrative officials
- Interactions with Trump transition officials
- Correspondence with industry associations and related parties
Documents dated from November 5, 2024, to July 29, 2025, are to be prepared by September 30, 2025.
In response, Sindelar stated that AFPI has not gained financially due to any changes in federal policies. He clarified, “The reason is simple: our founders decided that AFPI would not accept funds from any single company, foreign entity, or government.” He further remarked that while various liberal organizations and left-leaning politicians have amassed considerable funds to advocate for a radical climate agenda, AFPI maintains “clean hands and a clear conscience.”
He also pointed out that the federal donation database indicates that the White House has received significant funding from special interest groups, including conservation voters and Democratic organizations.
