In a fiery Senate Setting and Public Works Committee listening to on Wednesday, Environmental Safety Company (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin engaged in a heated alternate with far-left senators over the Trump administration’s proposed 55% price range minimize to the EPA and the cancellation of practically 800 Biden-era environmental grants.
As The Gateway Pundit beforehand reported, an EPA advisor was uncovered in a Mission Veritas undercover video admitting that the company rushed to allocate billions of taxpayer {dollars} to local weather change initiatives simply earlier than President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Additional, the video mentioned the EPA’s technique of utilizing nonprofits as a protect in opposition to Republican insurance policies and hints on the potential private advantages awaiting him post-tenure.
In March, Zeldin introduced a fourth spherical of DOGE cuts, halting over 400 extra grants and saving American taxpayers greater than $1.7 billion.
The Senate Setting and Public Works Committee listening to, meant to debate the EPA’s proposed 2026 price range, devolved right into a shouting match that uncovered the deep divide between commonsense conservatives and radical Democrat spendthrifts.
Zeldin, a former New York congressman and staunch Trump ally, didn’t maintain again when Whitehouse tried to nook him over the cancellation of practically 800 Biden-era grants, totaling billions in taxpayer {dollars}.
These grants, pushed by the left as “environmental justice” and “clear vitality” initiatives, had been riddled with what Zeldin known as “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Sen. Whitehouse demanded to know if Zeldin personally reviewed every grant, citing conflicting courtroom paperwork from EPA officers.
That is an absolute hearth. Lee Zeldin simply obliterates the far-left senator.
Notice: Beneath is the cleaned-up model of the transcript for readability and readability.
Lee Zeldin:
I performed a person assessment of the whole lot, and that idea doesn’t be just right for you.Sen. Whitehouse:
When did you conduct an individualized assessment of the 781 grants?Lee Zeldin:
As a result of we’ve a zero-tolerance coverage towards losing federal {dollars}.Sen. Whitehouse:
Will you present me your schedule?Lee Zeldin:
We inherited one thing. You don’t care about losing cash.Sen. Whitehouse:
Will you present me your schedule?Lee Zeldin:
You don’t care about losing cash, however the Trump administration does, Senator.Sen. Whitehouse:
Will you present me your schedule?Lee Zeldin:
Our schedule is publicly launched. We don’t put each single second of the day on the schedule.Sen. Whitehouse:
Will you present me your schedule to show your assertion that you simply did an individualized assessment of the 781 grants?Lee Zeldin:
I’m right here below oath, Senator. I’m right here below oath telling you that I used to be reviewing these items and dealing on it virtually each single day. Why? As a result of after I was earlier than this committee, I used to be requested by Senator Ricketts, if confirmed, would I instantly make this a prime precedence—to undergo all of the grant funding going by means of the EPA to ensure we’re cracking down on each waste, each facet of abuse?As a result of I’ve to come back again right here in entrance of Senator Ricketts at this time. Though you don’t care about losing tax {dollars}, Senator Ricketts does. I’m going to do my job as a result of the American public cares about us not losing tax {dollars}.
Sen. Whitehouse:
The issue along with your assertion right here at this time is that it’s belied by your individual staff’ sworn statements in courtroom, and by the choice of the Division of Justice to confess that what you say isn’t true.Lee Zeldin:
No, Senator. You’re not greedy the truth that we’d have a number of staff taking a look at these grants. That idea simply escapes you, like that’s even a risk.Sen. Whitehouse:
The one factor about that’s—it’s not true.Lee Zeldin:
You don’t care about 99% of this story.Sen. Whitehouse:
That’s not true, based on your individual staff’ testimony.Lee Zeldin:
You’re not greedy it, Senator. I don’t know what to say to you. You’re insisting on the very fact—Sen. Whitehouse:
I’m insisting on the very fact. That’s precisely what I’m insisting on. I’m insisting on the details, and I now have three totally different variations of the details—together with Division of Justice legal professionals who admitted in courtroom that what you’re saying now is just not true.Lee Zeldin:
We’re not going to waste {dollars} simply since you insist on the EPA lighting taxpayer {dollars} on hearth. The American taxpayers—they put President Trump in workplace due to individuals such as you.They’ve Republicans answerable for the Home and Senate due to individuals such as you—since you don’t care about 99% of this story. You don’t need me to undergo the listing of all of the proof of waste and abuse. No. What I would like you to do—in conflicts of curiosity. What I would like you to do—you don’t care about unqualified recipients. You don’t care about what your nation is, the oversight. What I would like you to…
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