At Climate Contrarian Gathering, Allies Urge Trump To Keep Zeldin At Epa

There was one overarching message from a large group of climate contrarians gathered Wednesday at a hotel near the White House: please keep Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in place.

The Heartland Institute’s annual conference attracts a familiar crowd of fringe researchers who downplay climate science, their fans and the think tanks that use their work to fight against climate regulations.

Zeldin, who has been rumored to be under consideration to replace Pam Bondi as attorney general, was a keynote speaker this year,the highest-ranking administration official to ever speak at the conference.

Zeldin's appearance, a clear sign of the Institute's growing influence inside the Trump administration, comes amid a complete revamping of climate regulations. Under Zeldin, the EPA has cut billions of dollars in climate grants awarded under the Biden administration, slashed pollution controls and, most significantly, eliminated the legal bedrock of climate regulations.

Earlier this year, Zeldin traveled to the White House to announce the roll back of the 2009 endangerment finding, which determined greenhouse gases are harmful to public health by causing climate change.

But amid all the excitement about the vast amount of government climate science and regulations destroyed by the Trump administration in the last year, there was also concern that the work was not done and that the best man for the job was Zeldin.

“We don't want to lose him at EPA,” said Marc Morano, of the conservative think tank the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. “I think he's been the most consequential EPA chief in the agency's history.”

Legal challenges to many of Zeldin’s actions are now winding their way through the courts. Climate and environmental activists have called for his resignation because they view him as the most dangerous EPA administrator in U.S. history.

On Wednesday, Zeldin told the crowd that he would rely on 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.

“No longer are we going to rely on bad, flawed assumptions instead of accurate, present day facts without apology or regret, whatever the truth and fact is of that moment will rule the day,” Zeldin said.

The crowd gave Zeldin a standing ovation.

“Lee Zeldin has been unbelievable as EPA Administrator,” Heartland President James Taylor said. “So selfishly, I would love to see him stay at EPA.”

That sentiment was echoed by Jason Hayes, director of energy and environment at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.

“I'm sure he would do a great job as attorney general, but I'm very happy with the work that Lee Zeldin is doing at EPA, so I'd be totally fine if he stayed there,” he said.

Will Happer, an emeritus Princeton University physics professor who served on the White House National Security Council in Trump’s first term, said he was pleased the Trump administration had advanced his years-long effort to conduct a review of climate science as part of its attacks on regulations. And that's why Zeldin's work would be more important at EPA.

“I don't know what role is bigger than the one he has now,” Happer said. “I think that this is so important to America and to its economy and to everyone from farmers, truck drivers, just the average American who has benefited so much from what he's done.”

For now, the Heartland Institute is basking in the newfound power that flows from being closely aligned with Zeldin and the Trump administration. For years, the group has sent to schools scientifically-questionable educational materials that promote more carbon dioxide pollution, advocated on behalf of industry in state capitols and once put up a billboard that compared climate advocates to the Unabomber.

“This is the first time that we have a true champion and cheerleader as head of EPA or this high up in an administration,” Taylor said. “These are great days.”