Major Controversies Surrounding Lee Zeldin: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Lee Zeldin.

Lee Michael Zeldin is an American attorney, politician, and officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is currently the 17th administrator of the EPA, starting January 29, 2025. A Republican, Zeldin previously served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023. Prior to his time in Congress, he was a member of the New York State Senate, representing the 3rd Senate district from 2011 to 2014.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

June 2011: Voted Against Marriage Equality Act

In June 2011, Lee Zeldin voted against the Marriage Equality Act, which the Senate passed 33–29. He stated that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman.

2011: Voted Against Same-Sex Marriage in New York

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

2014: Expressed Doubts About Severity of Climate Change

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

June 2015: Declined Comment on Same-Sex Marriage After Supreme Court Ruling

In June 2015, after the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that state-level bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, Lee Zeldin would not comment about his view of same-sex marriage, but indicated he believed the issue should have been decided at the state level.

September 2015: Condemned Proposed Federal Plan for Dumping 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, stating that they could not assume dumping waste spoils in the Long Island Sound was environmentally benign.

2015: No-show at House Committee hearings

In January 2016, the New York Post reported that Lee Zeldin was a no-show in 2015 at 12 of 18 House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings that dealt specifically with ISIL and with Syria.

January 2016: Reported no-show at House Committee hearings

In January 2016, the New York Post reported that Lee Zeldin was a no-show in 2015 at 12 of 18 House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings that dealt specifically with ISIL and with Syria.

2016: Spoke in Support of 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.

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 Affordable Care Act

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 Proposed Republican Tax Bill

In November 2017, Lee Zeldin said he was unsatisfied with the proposed Republican tax bill, citing concerns with 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 that same month.

December 2017: Voted Against Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Lee Zeldin voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, passed in December 2017. He supported the corporate tax cuts in the bill but did not approve of the limit for property tax deductions, preferring a cap of $20,000 or $25,000 to the $10,000 cap in the bill.

April 2018: Expressed Disapproval of the Paris Agreement

In April 2018, Lee Zeldin stated he did not support the Paris Agreement in its existing form, citing concerns about other countries' contributions to climate impacts and their lack of responsibility in making positive changes.

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.

May 2019: Voted Against the Equality Act

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

October 2019: Defended Trump During Impeachment Hearings

In October 2019, Lee Zeldin defended Trump during his first impeachment hearings concerning the Trump–Ukraine scandal, stating, "It is crystal clear... that any allegation that President Trump was trying to get President Zelensky [sic] to manufacture dirt on the Bidens is just not true."

November 2019: Referenced More Than 550 Times in Impeachment Deposition Transcripts

As of November 2019, Lee Zeldin had been referenced more than 550 times in the seven impeachment deposition transcripts released, more than any other Republican.

January 1, 2020: Opposed New York's Bail Reform

On January 1, 2020, Lee Zeldin opposed New York's bail reform, which eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges, and repeatedly called for its repeal.

February 1, 2020: Opined Republicans Should Expunge Impeachment

On February 1, 2020, Lee Zeldin opined that Republicans should expunge Trump's impeachment if they won a House majority in the upcoming 2020 House elections, tweeting, "The House of Representatives should EXPUNGE this sham impeachment in January 2021!"

2020: Signed Amicus Brief Supporting Lawsuit Contesting Election Results

After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and made false claims of fraud, Lee Zeldin was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the election.

2020: Participated in Rallies Without Mask or Social Distancing

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

January 6, 2021: Voted Against Certification of Electoral Votes

On January 6, 2021, after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Lee Zeldin voted against certification of Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes. He disavowed the violence and argued with protesters at his Patchogue office.

January 2021: Tweeted about expunging Trump's impeachment.

January 2021: Criticized Media Response to Trump's Call to Overturn Election

When asked in January 2021 to respond to the release of an audio recording of a phone call in which Trump pressured Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to overturn the 2020 election, Lee Zeldin responded by criticizing the media.

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

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

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 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

July 21, 2022: Attacked at Campaign Event

On July 21, 2022, Lee Zeldin was attacked at a campaign event in Perinton, New York, by David Jakubonis, who was wielding a pointed plastic key chain. The attacker was detained and later arrested on federal assault charges.

October 2022: Statement on Abortion Laws

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

February 2025: Charged Agencies with Conspiracy to Defraud

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.

March 2025: Announcement of Deregulation

In March 2025, Lee Zeldin, as the EPA Administrator, presented what he described as the "largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history," reframing the EPA's purpose towards deregulation and energy production.