There was a broad message from a large group of climate protesters gathered at a hotel near the White House on Wednesday: Please keep Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in office.
The Heartland Institute’s annual conference attracts a familiar crowd of fringe researchers who downplay climate science, their fans, and think tanks that use their work to fight against climate regulations.
Zeldin, who is rumored to be considering replacing Pam Bondi as attorney general, was the keynote speaker this year, the highest-ranking administration official to speak at the conference.
Zeldin’s presence is a clear sign of the institute’s growing influence inside the Trump administration, which comes amid a full overhaul of climate regulations. Under Zeldin, the EPA has cut billions of dollars in climate grants awarded under the Biden administration, cut pollution controls and, most importantly, eliminated the legal basis for climate regulations.
Earlier this year, Zeldin traveled to the White House to announce the withdrawal of the 2009 Endangerment Findings, which determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to public health due to climate change.
But amid all the excitement about the huge amount of government climate science and regulations destroyed by the Trump administration last year, there was also concern that the job wasn’t done and that the best man for the job was Zeldin.
“We don’t want to lose them at EPA,” said Mark Morano of the conservative think tank Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. “I think he has been the most consequential EPA head in the history of the agency.”
Legal challenges to many of Zeldin’s works are now winding down through the courts. Climate and environmental activists have called for his resignation as they view him as the most dangerous EPA administrator in US history.
On Wednesday, Zeldin told the crowd he would trust their version of climate research, which is contradicted by the vast body of science that shows humans are rapidly warming the planet by burning fossil fuels.
Zeldin said, “We will no longer without apology or regret rely on bad, flawed notions instead of accurate, current facts; whatever the truth and facts of that moment will rule the day.”
The crowd gave Zeldin a standing ovation.
“Lee Zeldin has been incredible as EPA Administrator,” said Heartland President James Taylor. “Very selfishly, I would prefer him to remain at EPA.”
That sentiment was echoed by Jason Hayes, director of energy and environment at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.
He said, “I’m sure he’ll do a great job as Attorney General, but I’m very happy with the job Lee Zeldin is doing at EPA, so I’d be totally fine if he stayed there.”
Will Happer, a physics professor emeritus at Princeton University who served on the White House National Security Council during Trump’s first term, said he was pleased the Trump administration has stepped up its years-long effort to review climate science as part of its attacks on regulations. And that’s why Zeldin’s work at EPA will be more important.
“I don’t know what’s a bigger role than the one he has now,” Happer said. “I think it’s very important for America and its economy and for everyone from farmers to truck drivers to the average American who has benefited greatly from their work.”
For now, the Heartland Institute is taking advantage of the new power that comes from being closely associated with Zeldin and the Trump administration. Over the years, the group has sent scientifically questionable educational materials to schools that promote more carbon dioxide pollution, advocated on behalf of the industry in state capitols and once put up a billboard that compared climate advocates to the Unabomber.
Taylor said, “This is the first time that we have had a true champion and cheerleader at the head of EPA or in such a high position in the administration.” “These are great days.”
