During the Environmental Protection Agency administrator confirmation hearing, former Rep. Lee Zeldin engaged in a discussion with Sen. Edward Markey regarding EPA officials' comments on last-minute expenditures. Zeldin referenced a Project Veritas video showing an individual identified as EPA special advisor Brent Efron likening the funds allocated to climate groups as 'gold bars off the Titanic,' emphasizing the urgency to disburse the money quickly.
Efron's statement suggested that the allocation was seen as an 'insurance policy against Trump winning,' as government funds are challenging to retract once distributed. Sen. Markey raised concerns about the distribution of funds, claiming that 80% of recent allocations had gone to Republican congressional districts.
Markey cautioned Zeldin against initiating a 'witch hunt' and urged him to maintain impartiality when evaluating EPA programs. Zeldin responded by expressing his intention to review the funds, noting that a significant portion had already received approval from Congress. He also reserved the right to address any discrepancies to Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito.
