WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Rep. Lee Zeldin to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, The Post can exclusively report.

Zeldin, 44, served four terms as a Republican congressman representing Long Island before losing the 2022 New York governor’s race to Kathy Hochul by a surprisingly narrow margin.

“I am deeply honored to have been asked by President Trump to serve in his Cabinet. As EPA Administrator, we will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, make the United States the world leader in artificial intelligence, and cut the red tape that keeps American workers from upward economic path. mobility,” says Zeldin. in a statement to The Post.

“We will accomplish all this while protecting our environment, protecting access to clean air and water, and keeping the American people healthy. I look forward to contributing to President Trump’s agenda to build a more prosperous future for our nation.”

Trump confirmed the appointment in his own statement.

“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. He will ensure fair and swift deregulation decisions that will be made in a way that will unleash the power of American corporations while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said.

“He will set new standards in environmental research and maintenance, allowing the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way.”

Trump added: “I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time and have seen him handle some extremely difficult and complex situations brilliantly. I am very proud to have him in the Trump administration, where he will quickly prove to be a major contributor!”

Zeldin’s previous political work has included protecting Long Island from potentially harmful dredged waste, and he is likely to be greeted with less dismay by Democrats than some other potential nominees for the post.

Zeldin will serve in the Cabinet alongside Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who Trump announced as his U.N. ambassador on Sunday evening. Both Zeldin and Stefanik were part of Trump’s ceremonial defense team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.