Top Republican Schools Democrat

Washington, D.C. – In a fiery showdown on Capitol Hill, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin clashed with Senate Democrats over President Trump’s sweeping budget cuts, defending the administration’s bold efforts to trim government waste and protect taxpayers.

At the center of the debate: EPA grant cancellations, part of a broader push to dismantle bloated programs and restore fiscal sanity in Washington.

Sen. Whitehouse Grills Zeldin – But Zeldin Fires Back

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) accused the EPA of failing to review canceled grants individually, referencing a court filing from February. But Zeldin didn’t back down.

“We had multiple employees involved in these reviews,” Zeldin said sharply. “You’re ignoring the process because you’re more interested in theatrics than facts.”

When Whitehouse claimed Zeldin’s statements conflicted with those made by DOJ attorneys in court, the EPA chief called out the political posturing.

“The American people elected President Trump because they were sick of bureaucrats lighting their hard-earned money on fire. That’s what you don’t understand,” Zeldin added.

“Fiction Writing” and Cancer Claims: Adam Schiff Joins the Fight

The hearing intensified when Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) launched into an emotional list of potential health risks he claimed would follow Trump’s environmental rollbacks—including everything from lung cancer to leukemia.

He also questioned a specific canceled grant that aimed to reduce lead exposure in children in Santa Ana, California.

Zeldin, unimpressed, responded bluntly:

“With that dramatic buildup, Congressman, I see why you have an interest in fiction writing.”

Schiff shot back with personal attacks, even claiming Zeldin “could give a rat’s ass” about public health—an accusation that drew sharp reactions from conservative lawmakers.

Protecting Taxpayers and Cutting the Fat

Zeldin stood firm, reminding the Senate that the EPA under President Trump is prioritizing efficiency, not performative politics.

“We’re not here to keep failed programs alive just because career politicians are emotionally attached to them,” he said.

Conservatives have long warned about government waste at the EPA, and under Trump’s leadership, common-sense cuts are finally happening. Critics may yell, but the silent majority supports trimming the fat and putting American families first.