In a resounding call to action, over 160 environmental and public health organisations have united to demand the resignation of Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The coalition accuses Zeldin of egregiously undermining the agency’s fundamental purpose, which is to safeguard public health and the environment. This open letter, released on 24 March 2026, highlights a series of alarming policy rollbacks and staffing cuts that critics argue are jeopardising the health of Americans and accelerating the climate crisis.
A Crisis of Confidence
The open letter, organised by prominent advocacy groups including the Climate Action Campaign and Moms Clean Air Force, describes Zeldin’s tenure as one of the most detrimental in EPA history. “No [EPA] administrator in history – Democratic or Republican – has so brazenly betrayed the agency’s core mission,” the letter states emphatically. It continues to detail how Zeldin has dismantled essential environmental protections that were designed to combat the climate emergency, maintain clean air and water, and ultimately protect the health of the American populace.
Advocates argue that under Zeldin’s leadership, the EPA has systematically weakened regulations that are crucial for environmental sustainability. They assert that he has prioritised corporate interests over the well-being of citizens, claiming he has “slashed vital funding” and “gutted agency staff”, creating an environment that favours corporate polluters at the expense of public health.
Growing Opposition from Within
The discontent with Zeldin’s leadership isn’t confined to external advocacy groups; it extends within the EPA itself. Current and former agency employees have voiced their concerns through the “Declaration of Dissent”, denouncing Zeldin’s approach to scientific integrity and the treatment of staff. Following their criticisms, some employees faced suspension or termination, although an internal review concluded that their actions did not breach ethical guidelines.
Brigit Hirsch, an EPA spokesperson, defended the agency’s stance, asserting that it maintains a “zero-tolerance policy” for any career bureaucrats who undermine the administration’s agenda. The tension within the agency underscores a broader disillusionment with Zeldin’s approach to environmental management, as he appears to favour an agenda aligned with corporate interests over scientific consensus.
Political Fallout and Future Implications
The backlash against Zeldin has not only come from environmental groups and agency staff; progressive lawmakers have also condemned his leadership. Zeldin’s approval has plummeted amid growing frustrations over his administration’s policies. Critics, including Gretchen Goldman, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, have called for an administrator who will confront the multifaceted challenges of climate change with robust and effective policy measures, rather than capitulating to corporate pressures.
Adding to the controversy, Zeldin is set to be the keynote speaker at a climate conference hosted by the Heartland Institute in Washington, DC next month. This organisation has garnered funding from major fossil fuel companies and wealthy Republican donors, and it has consistently rejected the scientific consensus on climate change, making Zeldin’s participation even more contentious.
Why it Matters
The call for Zeldin’s resignation signifies a critical moment in the ongoing struggle to uphold environmental protections in the face of corporate influence and political disregard. As the climate crisis intensifies, the demand for accountability from leaders who are entrusted with safeguarding our health and environment becomes ever more urgent. The actions taken now will have lasting implications for future generations, determining whether we can effectively combat climate change or succumb to the pressures of industry at the expense of public welfare. The outcome of this battle will shape the trajectory of environmental policy in the United States and potentially set a precedent for global efforts to address the climate emergency.
