The Journal: The Head of the EPA on the Future of the Agency
Hosts: Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, with Jessica Mendoza
Episode Release Date: April 9, 2025
Production: Spotify and The Wall Street Journal
Introduction
In the April 9, 2025 episode of The Journal, hosts Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, along with Jessica Mendoza, engage in an in-depth conversation with Lee Zeldin, the newly appointed Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The discussion centers around the transformative changes Zeldin is implementing within the agency, the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions on EPA’s regulatory authority, and the balance between environmental protection and economic growth.
Background: The EPA's Historical Context
Kate Linebaugh opens the discussion by tracing the origins of the EPA, established in 1970 under President Richard Nixon. She highlights Nixon’s vision for the agency:
"The EPA has a clear mission to protect human health and the environment. The agency does this primarily through regulations on issues like air and water pollution." [00:32]
Deregulatory Shift Under Lee Zeldin
Under President Trump’s administration, significant shifts have occurred within the EPA. Lee Zeldin, a Trump loyalist and former Congressman from Long Island, has spearheaded a series of deregulatory actions. Kate Linebaugh outlines these changes:
"Climate regulation is being rethought. Staff have been laid off, and billions of dollars in funding to green initiatives have been frozen." [00:32]
An unnamed analyst describes Zeldin’s actions as unprecedented:
"Deregulatory action in U.S. history... cutting 31 environmental rules regarding climate change, pollution, electric vehicles, and power plants." [01:11]
Impact of the Loperbright Supreme Court Decision
The conversation delves into the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Loperbright v. EPA, which significantly curtailed the agency’s regulatory power by allowing federal judges to overrule agency interpretations of the law. Zeldin emphasizes the importance of adhering to statutory obligations:
"It's very important for us to honor the rule of law... we should not be as an agency going rogue and strangulating the economy just because we all have a desire to protect the environment." [06:11]
This decision, as explained by Kate Linebaugh, represents a major rollback of agency power:
"The decision means 40 federal judges can overrule a government agency's interpretation of the law. It's a meaningful rollback of agencies regulatory power." [05:48]
Balancing Environmental Protection with Economic Growth
Zeldin articulates his vision of harmonizing environmental protection with economic prosperity. He argues against viewing environmental regulations and economic growth as mutually exclusive:
"Protecting the environment is not a binary choice with growing the economy." [03:50]
He criticizes blanket regulatory approaches that may harm industries and, consequently, the American populace:
"When you play it out... the people who will suffer the most are the Americans who can least afford it." [03:50]
Zeldin stresses the necessity of implementing existing laws without overstepping legal boundaries, especially in light of the Loperbright decision.
Specific Policy Actions and Initiatives
1. Delaware River Basin Water Quality Standards Zeldin discusses his administration’s commitment to enhancing water quality standards:
"I just signed off on one. For the Delaware River Basin... stricter standards put on these plants to improve water quality." [12:40]
2. Addressing Raw Sewage in Southern California The EPA is tackling the longstanding issue of raw sewage spills from Tijuana into Southern California:
"There is funding from the USMCA, $300 million as part of that agreement to build a treatment facility... extraordinarily important for US impacts." [13:58]
Zeldin expresses optimism about Mexico’s cooperation:
"My hope is is that we can get Mexico to do more. We need Mexico to do more." [14:51]
3. Wildfire Response and Mitigation Reflecting on recent wildfires, Zeldin outlines the EPA’s proactive measures:
"There’s a lot of concern as it relates to forest management, prescribed burns, being prepared with water." [16:12]
He commends the EPA’s swift action post-wildfires:
"We ended up getting it done in under 30 days." [15:46]
EPA’s Scientific Research and Future Plans
A significant portion of the discussion addresses concerns about the EPA’s scientific research capabilities. Reports suggest plans to eliminate the agency's scientific research arm and lay off over 1,000 scientists. Zeldin responds by clarifying the EPA’s ongoing commitment to science:
"The EPA is going to continue no matter what. In doing environmental science, we have these core statutory obligations that we must fulfill." [17:25]
He addresses potential misconceptions about reducing scientific capacity:
"Some people might want to say that we are getting rid of science by moving a scientist from one office to another... But we are going to be more thoughtful." [17:25]
Zeldin assures that the EPA will maintain its scientific integrity and continue to meet its statutory obligations despite structural changes.
Supreme Court Decision on the Endangerment Finding
The episode revisits the 2009 Endangerment Finding, where the EPA concluded that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, endanger human health by contributing to climate change. With President Trump seeking to challenge this finding, Zeldin elaborates:
"The endangerment finding... carbon dioxide, when mixed with these other five well-mixed gases, do contribute to climate change." [08:13]
He acknowledges ongoing regulatory processes to reassess this finding:
"We will go through that process, and as we get further along in the process, then we start making conclusions and decisions as to how to go forward on this policy." [08:42]
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The episode concludes with Zeldin reaffirming his dedication to the EPA’s mission amidst significant administrative and judicial changes. He emphasizes the agency’s role in implementing existing laws and preparing for future environmental challenges without overstepping legal boundaries.
"We have not yet reached any decisions [regarding scientific restructuring], and we have not yet reached any decisions." [17:25]
Zeldin’s tenure as EPA Administrator is portrayed as one seeking to balance environmental stewardship with economic vitality, operating within the confines of the law as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
Key Takeaways
- Deregulatory Focus: Under Zeldin, the EPA is undertaking a significant rollback of recent environmental regulations to prioritize economic growth.
- Supreme Court Influence: The Loperbright decision limits the EPA’s ability to interpret laws autonomously, requiring strict adherence to statutory language.
- Selective Regulation: While broad deregulation is occurring, the EPA is maintaining or even introducing certain environmental protections, such as improved water quality standards in the Delaware River Basin.
- Bilateral Environmental Efforts: The EPA is actively engaging in cross-border environmental initiatives, particularly concerning sewage management between the US and Mexico.
- Scientific Integrity: Despite reports of potential reductions in scientific staff, Zeldin assures continued commitment to the EPA’s scientific mission, aiming to fulfill statutory obligations thoughtfully.
This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the current trajectory of the EPA under Lee Zeldin’s leadership, highlighting the complexities of environmental governance in a politically and legally constrained environment.