History of Lee Zeldin in Timeline
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).
January 30, 1980: Lee Zeldin Born
On January 30, 1980, Lee Michael Zeldin was born. He is an American attorney, politician, and officer in the United States Army Reserve.
1998: Graduates High School
In 1998, Lee Zeldin graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, New York.
2001: Receives Bachelor's Degree
In 2001, Lee Zeldin received a bachelor's degree in political science from the SUNY University at Albany.
May 2003: Receives Juris Doctor
In May 2003, Lee Zeldin received a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School.
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.
June 2011: Votes Against Marriage Equality Act
In June 2011, Lee Zeldin voted against the Marriage Equality Act, which the Senate passed 33–29 and was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Zeldin stated his belief that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman.
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.
March 2014: Votes Against New York Dream Act
In March 2014, Lee Zeldin voted against the New York Dream Act, which would allow undocumented students who meet in-state tuition requirements to obtain financial aid to study at the university level.
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.
May 2015: Voted for Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
In May 2015, Lee Zeldin voted for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill he co-sponsored, which would prohibit abortions in cases where the fetus's probable age is 20 weeks or more, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother's life was in danger. The act 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.
September 18, 2015: Votes for Defund Planned Parenthood Act
On September 18, 2015, Lee Zeldin voted for the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, a bill that would defund the nonprofit organization Planned Parenthood for one year unless the organization agreed not to provide abortion services.
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.
January 2020: Joined Brief to Overturn Roe v. Wade
In January 2020, Lee Zeldin joined a "friend of the court" brief demanding that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.
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.
August 2020: Jewish Republicans in Congress
As of August 2020, Lee Zeldin was one of two Jewish Republicans in Congress.
November 2020: Announcement of Leukemia Diagnosis and Remission
On September 18, 2021, Lee Zeldin announced that he had been diagnosed with leukemia in November 2020 but had achieved disease remission following treatment.
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.
September 18, 2021: Announcement of Leukemia Diagnosis and Remission
On September 18, 2021, Lee Zeldin announced that he had been diagnosed with leukemia in November 2020 but had achieved disease remission following treatment.
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.
April 2022: Statements on Appointing Health Commissioner
In April 2022, Lee Zeldin said it would be "a great idea" to appoint a health commissioner who opposed abortion.
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.
July 21, 2022: Attacked at Campaign Event
On July 21, 2022, Lee Zeldin was attacked at a campaign event in Perinton, New York. David Jakubonis attacked Zeldin with a pointed plastic key chain, before being stopped. Jakubonis was initially released before being arrested on federal assault charges.
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%.
April 30, 2025: Retires from Army Reserve
On April 30, 2025, Lee Zeldin retired from the Army Reserve, where he had achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
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