Calls For Zeldin’s Resignation Grow as EPA’s Pro-Polluter Agenda Threatens our Health, Raises Costs

WASHINGTON, DC- Calls for EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to step down or be fired have grown across the political and ideological spectrum in recent days, with conservative activists in the Trump-aligned "Make America Healthy Again" movement circulating a petitioncalling for his resignation and the clean air advocacy organization Moms Clean Air Force sending a letter to Congresscalling for Zeldin to be held accountable for EPA's failures.

Critics are rightly questioning Zeldin's close ties to the chemical industry, his continued work to put the interests of fossil fuel companies and corporate polluters ahead of the American people, and a "deregulatory" agenda that will make our air and water more dirty and less safe-all while costs continue to rise.

"Since its founding in 1970, the EPA's mission has been to protect the environment and public health. Under Lee Zeldin's failed leadership, the Trump EPA has instead bent over backward for fossil fuel companies, chemical manufacturers pushing out forever chemicals like PFAS, and the auto industry," said Patrick Drupp, Sierra Club's Director of Climate Policy. "He's let dirty coal- and gas-fired power plants emit more mercury, deadly soot, and toxic chemicals; he's handed the keys to critical EPA offices over to lobbyists from the chemical industry; and he's rolled back life-saving tailpipe pollution standards across all vehicle sizes. The end result of all of these actions is that corporate polluters profit at the general public's expense."

The Sierra Club has continued to work to shed light on the agency's actions and the inner workings of Zeldin's team. Documents obtained by the organization via Freedom of Information Act requests earlier this year helped uncover details on an email-based system the EPA set up to allow polluters to circumvent the Clean Air Act. The Sierra Club has also published Zeldin's calendarsand released emails and external communicationsZeldin and top EPA officials have had with industry executives and lobbyists.

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration set up a "concierge, white glove service" to cater to fossil fuel companies' demands across the government. It was also recently revealed that more than 40 administration staffershave direct ties to fossil fuel companies. The Sierra Club will continue working to expose how this Administration is hurting Americans and the environment and hold them accountable.

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.