Lee Zeldin, confirmed as EPA Administrator at the end of January, has swiftly reshaped the agency’s trajectory in line with President Trump’s agenda to prioritize economic growth, energy independence, and regulatory pullback. In his first hundred days, Zeldin unveiled the “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative, detailing a list of 100 environmental actions taken since Trump’s inauguration and highlighting a shift away from the previous administration’s regulatory approach. Zeldin consistently rejects the notion that environmental stewardship is at odds with economic prosperity, emphasizing that his agency seeks to meet statutory requirements for clean air, land, and water while simultaneously energizing the economy and cutting costs for Americans.

Under Zeldin’s leadership, the EPA has initiated a deregulatory blitz, targeting over a dozen existing rules, canceling environmental grants, and eliminating the agency’s environmental justice wing. One of the most prominent moves has been the cancellation of grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental justice, resulting in over $120 million in savings. More than 1,000 EPA employees have exited the agency in recent months, through voluntary retirement, probationary release, and other avenues — a reduction Zeldin suggests will streamline operations and return focus to the agency’s core mission.

Zeldin has also worked closely with the Department of Government Efficiency to identify areas of potential savings, including the reevaluation of media subscriptions and grant spending. This partnership led to the cancellation of 30 grants and a broader review of agency expenditures, reflecting Zeldin’s approach to fiscal discipline.

On policy, Zeldin has outlined five major pillars to guide the EPA: ensuring clean air, land, and water for every American; prioritizing emergency response for environmental crises; fostering economic growth; upholding regulatory certainty; and maximizing science-based decision-making. He has tasked the agency with rapid response and completion of major projects, including the recent hazardous material removal following historic wildfires in Los Angeles, which was completed within an unprecedented 30 days.

The new EPA leadership has also signaled a review of signature environmental programs. Notably, Zeldin announced a broad new PFAS plan, echoing core strategies from the previous administration but with an emphasis on updated science, expanded testing, better data collection, and more frequent public updates. However, critics note that questions remain about whether previous rulemakings on PFAS will be rescinded.

Some of Zeldin’s claims and decisions have already sparked controversy. For example, his assertion that the EPA could scrap the ENERGY STAR program has been challenged as disregarding statutory requirements. Environmental advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns that the pace and depth of regulatory rollback mirror proposals found in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a conservative playbook for federal government reform. While Zeldin denies directly using this blueprint, his actions — including aggressive workforce reductions and grant cancellations — align closely with its recommendations.

Despite the rapid transformation, Zeldin maintains that the agency will not lose sight of its mandate to protect human health and the environment, even as it pursues a streamlined and economically driven approach. These decisions mark a significant pivot for the EPA during a period of intense political and policy change.