Lee Zeldin is now EPA chief under Biden, after serving as NY GOP congressman. In the news for leading climate policy shifts and EPA rollbacks.
Recent spills from a sewer pipe collapse in Maryland and a fuel spill near Atlanta have raised concerns over water safety. Griffin, Georgia, is testing its water after a fuel spill from Atlanta airport, while Maryland faces a major sewage spill into the Potomac River. Both incidents highlight aging infrastructure and environmental risks.
On February 12, 2026, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the repeal of the 2009 'endangerment finding' that classified greenhouse gases as threats to public health. Led by the Trump administration and EPA head Lee Zeldin, this marks the largest climate deregulation in US history, removing federal greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles and threatening broader climate regulations. The rollback aims to reduce costs for automakers and fossil fuel industries but faces strong opposition from environmental groups and legal challenges.
The Biden administration's vehicle emissions standards are effectively eliminated following the Trump administration's regulatory rollbacks, including the end of greenhouse gas regulations and credits for start-stop technology. California plans to sue to maintain stricter standards amid industry support for deregulation.
Gas prices across the US have increased sharply since late February, driven by geopolitical tensions, refinery closures, and policy factors. The national average now exceeds $4 per gallon, with California reaching nearly $6. California's high costs are linked to refinery closures, taxes, and environmental policies, compounded by recent hacking incidents and potential Iran Strait shutdowns.
On April 2, 2026, President Donald Trump dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi after 14 months, citing frustrations over her handling of Jeffrey Epstein files and failed prosecutions of his political opponents. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, was named acting attorney general. Bondi will transition to a private sector role.
A UN expert reports Mexico is a pollution sink for the US, with over 1,000 contaminated sites, including waste imports and industrial pollution affecting communities' health. The government faces criticism for lax standards and unchecked environmental damage, especially in sacrifice zones.