Lee Zeldin’s week in the hot seat

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin faced three high-stakes, sometimes-combative congressional hearings this week, defending President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash the agency’s budget by more than half and promoting the administration’s push to slash regulations and promote fossil energy development. POLITICO’s Alex Guillén recaps Zeldin’s week on the Hill and what’s ahead for him and EPA. Plus, a State Department official said this week that the administration has signed 27 critical mineral deals with allied countries since February. Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and executive producer of POLITICO Energy. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. Cyril Zaneski is executive editor of POLITICO’s E&E News. Debra Kahn is the editorial director for energy and environmental coverage at POLITICO. Veronica Tejera is the deputy head of Audio/Video at POLITICO. Our theme music is by Pran Bandi. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and Instagram. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more reporting on energy and the environment,

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Lee Zeldin’s week in the hot seat is an episode from POLITICO Energy by POLITICO.

This episode is 12:35 long.

This episode was published on May 1, 2026.

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