Trump selects Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency

President-elect Donald Trump has picked former New York Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin to be the head of the Environmental Protection Agency in his upcoming administration. 

“I am deeply honored to have been asked by President Trump to serve in his Cabinet," Zeldin said in a statement to the New York Post.

"As EPA Administrator, we will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, make the United States the global leader of Artificial Intelligence advancement, and slash the red tape holding back American workers from upward economic mobility," the statement continued. 

Zeldin represented Long Island in Congress for four terms before running for governor and losing to current Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

“We will accomplish all this while conserving our environment, protecting access to clean air and water, and keeping the American people healthy," Zeldin's statement to the Post continued. "I look forward to contributing to President Trump’s agenda to build a more prosperous future for our nation.”

Trump has also announced New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as United Nations Ambassador and Tom Homan as the "border czar" for his second term.

"I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations. I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!" Trump said in an emailed statement.