Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Lee Zeldin

Discover the career path of Lee Zeldin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Lee Michael Zeldin is an American attorney, politician, and officer in the United States Army Reserve. A Republican, he served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023. Prior to that, he was a member of the New York State Senate (2011-2014). Since January 2025, Zeldin has served as the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2003: Army Commission

In 2003, Lee Zeldin received an Army ROTC commission as a second lieutenant and served in the United States Army.

2004: Admitted to New York State Bar

In 2004, Lee Zeldin was admitted to the New York State Bar.

2007: Attorney for Port Authority

In 2007, Lee Zeldin became an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

2007: Transition to Army Reserve

In 2007, Lee Zeldin transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserve.

2008: Challenges Tim Bishop

In 2008, Lee Zeldin challenged incumbent representative Tim Bishop in New York's 1st congressional district. Bishop defeated Zeldin 58%–42%.

2008: Starts Law Firm

In 2008, Lee Zeldin started a general-practice law firm in Smithtown, New York.

2010: Election to State Senate

In 2010, Lee Zeldin ran in the New York State Senate's 3rd District, challenging Democratic incumbent Brian X. Foley. Zeldin won the election with 57% of the vote.

January 2011: Property Tax Cap Bill

In January 2011, a bill co-sponsored by Lee Zeldin that provided for a 2% property tax cap became law.

December 2011: Supports MTA Payroll Tax Cut

In December 2011, Lee Zeldin supported a $250 million cut to the MTA payroll tax.

2011: Voted Against Same-Sex Marriage in New York

In 2011, as a New York state senator, Lee Zeldin voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during the roll-call for the Marriage Equality Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

March 2012: Helps Create Veterans Support Program

In March 2012, Lee Zeldin helped to create the PFC Joseph Dwyer PTSD Peer-to-Peer Veterans Support program; funding for the program was included in the 2012–13 New York State Budget.

2012: Re-elected to State Senate

In 2012, Lee Zeldin was reelected in the New York State Senate, defeating Democrat Francis Genco with 56% of the vote.

January 14, 2013: Missed NY SAFE Act Vote

On January 14, 2013, Lee Zeldin missed the vote on the NY SAFE Act in the New York State Senate because he was on Army Reserve duty in Virginia. He released a statement saying he would have voted against the gun control measure.

October 6, 2013: Announces Congressional Run

On October 6, 2013, Lee Zeldin announced he would again seek the Republican nomination to run against Tim Bishop in New York's 1st congressional district. His state senate district included much of the congressional district's western portion.

February 2014: Introduces Common Core Bill

In February 2014, Lee Zeldin introduced a bill that sought to halt implementation of the Common Core curriculum for three years.

2014: Doubts About Climate Change Severity

In 2014, Lee Zeldin expressed doubts about the severity of climate change.

February 2015: Introduced Bill to Eliminate Dollar Limit for Veterans' Loans

In February 2015, Lee Zeldin introduced his first bill to eliminate the dollar limit for loans that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs can guarantee for a veteran.

February 2015: Part of Patriot Program

In February 2015, the National Republican Congressional Committee announced that Lee Zeldin was one of 12 members in the Patriot Program, designed to help protect vulnerable Republican incumbents in the 2016 election.

April 2015: Introduction of the Fluke Fairness Act

In April 2015, Lee Zeldin and Senator Chuck Schumer introduced the Fluke Fairness Act. The bill aimed to change the management of fluke fishing quotas by creating a regional approach, but it did not pass.

June 2015: Zeldin's View on Same-Sex Marriage

In June 2015, after the Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that state-level bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, Lee Zeldin declined to comment on his view but suggested the issue should be decided at the state level.

July 15, 2015: Introduction of the Exclusive Economic Zone Clarification Act

On July 15, 2015, Lee Zeldin introduced the Exclusive Economic Zone Clarification Act, which proposed amending the boundary in part of the federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to give fisheries management of Block Island Sound exclusively to New York and Rhode Island. The bill died in committee.

July 2015: Amendment to Student Success Act

In July 2015, Lee Zeldin attached an amendment to the Student Success Act that allowed states to opt out of Common Core without penalty. The amendment was passed and signed into law.

September 2015: Condemnation of Proposed Federal Plan for Dredged Materials

In September 2015, Lee Zeldin and Citizens Campaign for the Environment executive director Adrienne Esposito condemned a proposed federal plan for dumping dredged materials in the Long Island Sound, expressing concerns about environmental impact.

2015: Pledge to Reverse Hydraulic Fracturing Ban

During his gubernatorial campaign in 2021, Lee Zeldin pledged to reverse New York state's 2015 ban on hydraulic fracturing.

2015: Co-sponsorship of Bills to Combat Lyme Disease

In 2015, Lee Zeldin co-sponsored two bills in Congress to combat Lyme disease: the Tick-Borne Disease Research and Accountability and Transparency Act of 2015 and the 21st Century Cures Act.

2015: Reported Absence from ISIL Hearings

In January 2016, the New York Post reported that Lee Zeldin was absent in 2015 from 12 of 18 House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings specifically addressing ISIL and Syria.

January 2016: Reported Absence from ISIL Hearings

In January 2016, the New York Post reported that Lee Zeldin was absent in 2015 from 12 of 18 House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings specifically addressing ISIL and Syria.

February 2016: Proposed Federal Veterans' Peer-Support Program

In February 2016, Lee Zeldin proposed federal legislation to fund a three-year, $25-million nationwide veterans' peer-support program.

February 2016: Sought Visas to Travel to Iran

In February 2016, Lee Zeldin, along with Representatives Mike Pompeo and Frank LoBiondo, sought visas to travel to Iran to assess the country's compliance with the Iran nuclear deal framework.

April 2016: Introduced Legislation to Prevent Sale of Plum Island

In April 2016, Lee Zeldin introduced legislation to prevent the federal government's sale of Plum Island to the highest bidder. The bill passed the House unanimously the following month.

May 3, 2016: Endorsed Donald Trump for President

On May 3, 2016, Lee Zeldin endorsed Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.

June 2016: Iran Denied Visa Request

In June 2016, Iran rejected the visa request from Lee Zeldin and other representatives to visit the country, calling the request a "publicity stunt".

2016: Staunch Trump Ally

During Trump's presidency, Lee Zeldin was a staunch Trump ally.

2016: Support for Anti-BDS Legislation

In 2016, Lee Zeldin spoke in support of the anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) legislation that passed the New York State Senate.

2016: Wins Election

In 2016, Lee Zeldin won the general election, facing Democratic nominee Anna Throne-Holst, a member of the Southampton Town Board, securing 58% of the vote.

March 2017: Co-sponsored Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In March 2017, Lee Zeldin co-sponsored a bipartisan bill in the House, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, to oppose boycotts of Israel and further combat the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

May 4, 2017: Voted to Repeal Obamacare

On May 4, 2017, Lee Zeldin voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.

November 2017: Expressed Dissatisfaction with Republican Tax Bill

In November 2017, Lee Zeldin expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed Republican tax bill, citing concerns about eliminating the state and local tax deduction. House Speaker Paul Ryan canceled plans to attend a fundraiser for Zeldin after Zeldin voted against the House version of the bill.

December 2017: Voted Against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Lee Zeldin voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, passed in December 2017, due to concerns about the limit for property tax deductions.

2017: Supported Trump's Firing of James Comey

In 2017, during Trump's presidency, Lee Zeldin supported Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.

April 2018: Zeldin's stance on the Paris Agreement

In April 2018, Lee Zeldin expressed that he did not support the Paris Agreement in its current form, citing concerns about the lack of responsibility from other countries regarding their contributions to climate change.

May 2018: Supported Relocation of U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

In May 2018, Lee Zeldin supported the Trump administration's decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as part of the United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

May 2018: Called for Criminal Prosecution of Andrew McCabe

In May 2018, during Trump's presidency, Lee Zeldin called for the criminal prosecution of former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe.

2018: Voted Against Appropriations Measure During Government Shutdown

During the 2018-19 U.S. government shutdown, Lee Zeldin voted with the Republican caucus against the appropriations measure to fund the federal government and instructed the House to withhold his pay.

2018: Unopposed in Primary

In 2018, Lee Zeldin ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

2018: Fundraisers with Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka

In 2018, Lee Zeldin's campaign featured fundraisers with Breitbart News founder Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka. Reporters were removed from the Gorka event.

May 2019: Voted Against the Equality Act

In May 2019, Lee Zeldin voted against the Equality Act.

October 2019: Defense of Trump During Impeachment Hearings

In October 2019, Lee Zeldin defended President Trump during his first impeachment hearings, stating that allegations of Trump pressuring President Zelenskyy to manufacture dirt on the Bidens were untrue.

November 2019: Defense of Trump During Impeachment Hearings

In November 2019, no Republican had spoken more than Zeldin during the impeachment deposition transcripts.

January 1, 2020: Opposition to New York's Bail Reform

On January 1, 2020, New York's bail reform went into effect, eliminating cash bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges, Lee Zeldin repeatedly called for its repeal.

February 1, 2020: Called for Expungement of Trump's Impeachment

On February 1, 2020, Lee Zeldin tweeted that Republicans should expunge Trump's impeachment if they won a House majority in the 2020 elections.

April 2020: Assisted Suffolk County in Obtaining PPE

According to an announcement in April 2020, Lee Zeldin helped Suffolk County obtain over 1.2 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the White House for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, following discussions with Jared Kushner.

2020: Signed Amicus Brief Supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania

After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Lee Zeldin was among the Republican representatives who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit contesting the election results.

2020: Participated in Rallies Without Masking or Social Distancing

During the 2020 election campaign, Lee Zeldin participated in campaign rallies without wearing a mask or adhering to social distancing guidelines.

January 6, 2021: Voted Against Certification of Electoral Votes

On January 6, 2021, after the U.S. Capitol attack, Lee Zeldin voted against certification of Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes, while disavowing the violence. On January 7, he acknowledged that Biden would be the next president.

January 2021: Criticized Media Response to Trump's Call to Raffensperger

In January 2021, when asked to respond to the release of an audio recording of a phone call in which Trump pressured Georgia's secretary of state to overturn the 2020 election, Lee Zeldin criticized the media.

April 2021: Announces Run for Governor

In April 2021, Lee Zeldin announced he would run for governor of New York in 2022.

April 2021: Announces Candidacy for Governor of New York

In April 2021, Lee Zeldin announced his candidacy for governor of New York in the 2022 election.

April 30, 2021: Endorsements for Governor Campaign

On April 30, 2021, Lee Zeldin announced that Erie and Niagara counties' Republican party chairs had endorsed his campaign, giving him the necessary 50% of state committee support to gain the Republican nomination.

June 2021: Named Presumed Nominee

In June 2021, Republican state chair Nick Langworthy named Lee Zeldin the party's "presumed nominee" after he earned 85% of a straw poll vote of county leaders. Conservative state chair Gerard Kassar also called Zeldin the "presumptive nominee" of the Conservative Party of New York State.

July 1, 2021: Voted Against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

On July 1, 2021, Lee Zeldin voted against the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

August 2021: Endorsed by County Chairs

As of August 2021, Lee Zeldin had been endorsed by 49 of New York's 62 county Republican party chairs.

November 5, 2021: Voted Against Senate Amendment to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

On November 5, 2021, Lee Zeldin voted against the Senate amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

November 2021: Declines to Commit to Campaigning with Trump

In November 2021, Lee Zeldin declined to commit to campaigning with Donald Trump, stating, "There are plenty of New Yorkers who love him, there are plenty of New Yorkers out there who don't."

2021: Pledge to Reverse Hydraulic Fracturing Ban

During his gubernatorial campaign in 2021, Lee Zeldin pledged to reverse New York state's 2015 ban on hydraulic fracturing.

March 1, 2022: Receives State Committee Designation for Governor

On March 1, 2022, Lee Zeldin received the New York Republican State Committee's designation for governor of New York; 85% of the committee voted to back him. He has also received the Conservative Party's designation.

June 2022: Zeldin on Overturning of Roe v. Wade

In June 2022, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Lee Zeldin stated that it was "a victory for life, for family, for the Constitution, and for federalism."

June 29, 2022: Wins Republican Gubernatorial Primary

On June 29, 2022, Lee Zeldin was declared the winner of the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, facing Rob Astorino, Andrew Giuliani, and Harry Wilson.

July 2022: Voted in Favor of Respect for Marriage Act

In July 2022, Lee Zeldin was one of 47 Republican representatives who voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.

October 2022: Zeldin's Stance on New York's Abortion Laws

In October 2022, Lee Zeldin stated that if elected governor, he would not change New York's abortion laws.

December 8, 2022: Did Not Vote on Final Passage of Respect for Marriage Act

Lee Zeldin did not vote on its final passage on December 8, 2022, of the Respect for Marriage Act.

2022: Vote Against Inflation Reduction Act

In 2022, Lee Zeldin voted against the Inflation Reduction Act.

April 24, 2023: Endorsed Donald Trump on X

On April 24, 2023, Lee Zeldin endorsed Donald Trump in a post on X (Formerly Twitter).

2023: Launch of Leadership America Needs PAC

In 2023, Lee Zeldin launched Leadership America Needs, a PAC with the goal of increasing Republican voter turnout among young people and voters of color.

November 2024: Nominee for EPA Administrator

In November 2024, CNN reported that Lee Zeldin was Trump's nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

November 2024: Nominated for Administrator of the EPA

In November 2024, Lee Zeldin was nominated for Administrator of the EPA as part of the second administration of President Donald Trump.

January 16, 2025: Confirmation Hearing

On January 16, 2025, Lee Zeldin's confirmation hearing was held.

January 29, 2025: Zeldin Becomes EPA Administrator

On January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin began serving as the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

February 2025: Charges Against Organizations Receiving Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds

In February 2025, Lee Zeldin, working with the FBI, charged nonprofit and state government agencies that had legally received funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Citibank froze the accounts of organizations including Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance without notice.

March 2025: EPA Deregulatory Announcement

In March 2025, Lee Zeldin, as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, presented what he described as the "largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history," reframing the agency's purpose towards deregulation and energy production in lieu of public health and environmental protections. Plans were announced to repeal major environmental regulations and cut the EPA's budget by 65%.