Former Congressman Lee Zeldin's confirmation hearing for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership was dominated by Democratic senators' questions about his stance on climate change. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the committee's ranking member, pressed Zeldin on his view of carbon dioxide as a pollutant, to which Zeldin responded that while individual emissions are negligible, the EPA should address large-scale carbon dioxide output.

Using a topographic map of Rhode Island, Whitehouse highlighted areas vulnerable to rising sea levels, connecting the issue to Zeldin's former congressional district across Long Island Sound. Senator Bernie Sanders emphasized the record-breaking temperatures of 2024 and the past decade, citing extreme weather events globally. He also pointed to President-elect Trump's past dismissal of climate change as a hoax. Sanders pressed Zeldin to declare whether he considered climate change an existential threat.

In contrast, Senator John Curtis commended Zeldin for his balanced perspective on climate change, emphasizing the potential for common ground on environmental issues. A ringing cellphone near Zeldin prompted a quip from Sanders about the "fossil fuel industry." Senator Edward Markey, co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, questioned Zeldin on his 2016 comments about reducing reliance on fossil fuels, contrasting them with Zeldin's current support for an "all-of-the-above" energy approach. Senator Adam Schiff raised concerns about constituents impacted by wildfires, leading to Zeldin's offer to visit California and provide assistance.

Zeldin's opening statement emphasized his commitment to the EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment, advocating for a balance between environmental protection and economic growth. He pledged to foster collaboration within the EPA and uphold environmental stewardship. While having a low lifetime environmental voting score from the League of Conservation Voters, Zeldin highlighted his efforts to improve air and water quality in New York, including opposing dredge-waste dumping in Long Island Sound and increasing funding for the EPA's Long Island Sound Program.