A petition calling for the removal of Lee Zeldin from his position as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is gaining traction on social media. This movement reflects a growing rift between health-focused conservatives and the deregulatory agenda of the Trump administration. The petition accuses Zeldin of favoring corporate interests over public health, particularly in relation to chemical regulations that affect American families and children.
The initiative, organized by members of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, criticizes Zeldin for allegedly prioritizing the “interests of chemical corporations over the well-being of American families and children.” The petition warns that this approach could lead to increased rates of chronic diseases, higher medical costs, and greater strain on the healthcare system. Prominent figures behind the petition include Alex Clark, a wellness podcast host affiliated with Turning Point USA, and Zen Honeycutt, founder and executive director of Moms Across America, a group advocating for food safety and chemical regulation.
The petition has garnered support from the Moms Clean Air Force, an advocacy organization focused on protecting children from air pollution and climate change. Dominique Browning, the group’s founder, stated, “With every proposed deregulation, he’s allowing families and children to be exposed to more soot, more mercury, more methane, more toxic chemicals.” Browning emphasized that Zeldin must be removed from his position to safeguard public health.
Under Zeldin’s leadership, the EPA has recently introduced new pesticide approvals and rolled back chemical safeguards, which contradicts MAHA’s commitment to public health. The agency’s policy regarding PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and association with severe health issues, has particularly fueled this backlash.
A newly approved pesticide containing isocycloseram is planned for use on agricultural crops and residential areas. Simultaneously, the EPA has proposed rolling back drinking water protections for several PFAS compounds. These changes come roughly one year after then-President Donald Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Health and Human Services Secretary, with the expectation that Kennedy would help protect citizens from harmful chemicals and pollutants.
The petition also highlights a larger divide within the Republican Party, where traditional industry-friendly members advocate for deregulation citing economic benefits. In contrast, a faction prioritizing health and chemical safety is gaining prominence.
Despite the mounting criticism, Zeldin appears to retain the support of President Trump. Recently, during a White House roundtable discussion on a $12 billion aid package for farmers, Trump praised Zeldin, stating, “He is doing a fantastic job.”
In response to the petition and criticism, an EPA spokesperson told Scripps News that all decisions made under Trump’s EPA are based on “rigorous, transparent, gold standard science.” The spokesperson asserted that the agency is committed to protecting human health and the environment while promoting economic growth, suggesting that those who challenge this perspective are misinformed or dishonest.
The evolving situation surrounding Zeldin’s leadership at the EPA underscores not only the complexities of environmental regulation but also the ongoing debates within the conservative movement over the balance between economic interests and public health concerns.