Environmental Pollution Agency Renaming Ceremony

ADVISORY

Administrator Zeldin Announces New Name for EPA:

Environmental Pollution Agency

Name change reflects new pro-polluters mission under President Trump

Adm. Zeldin to host renaming ceremony at EPA on Thursday

EAST PALESTINE, OHIO – While visiting the site of an infamous 2023 chemical spill, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA would henceforth be known as the Environmental Pollution Agency to better align with the Trump administration’s pro-pollution agenda.

“For too long the EPA has worked for Americans who want clean air, clean water, and safe environments,” said Administrator Zeldin. “Under President Trump, we’re giving the power back to America’s patriotic fossil fuel and chemical companies. The same guys who raise your electric bill every year should be able to dump where they want without government interference. It’s called freedom.”

The name change comes on the heels of Administrator Zeldin’s other moves to prioritize polluters at the EPA, including dismantling the Office of Research & Development; reconsidering the ban on asbestos and regulations related to wastewater and mercury; and taking steps to allow the oil, gas, automotive, and other industries to pollute to their hearts’ desire.

Administrator Zeldin further announced that he will officiate a renaming ceremony this Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m. Media and the public are invited to join him at the EPA (12th St. NW between Pennsylvania and Constitution Aves.) at that time. Please RSVP to [email protected].

“The Climate Hoax is DEAD! Just like I PROMISED during the Campaign when I told oil execs why they should give me a BILLION dollars — we’re ENDING the ridiculous, job-destroying “Environmental” Regulations that the Radical Left loves so much,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. “Lee and I are doing an INCREDIBLE job with the Environmental POLLUTION Agency (much better name!). No more Green New Scam — America FIRST means chemical runoff in EVERY backyard and FIRES in every river — just like the GOOD OLD DAYS!!!”

“I commend the Trump administration for taking steps to get rid of the Endangerment Finding that’s been regulating greenhouse gases — or as we call them, Miracle Molecules,” said Michael K. Wirth, CEO of Chevron. “True to its name, the finding endangers small businesses like mine. Thank you to President Trump for the freedom to pollute.”

“Naysayers will claim that pulling back regulations will cause more disasters like the deadly floods in Texas,” said EPA spokeswoman Melinda McFossilShill. “This is 100% false. We all know that floods and hurricanes are caused either by God’s wrath or by suspicious minority groups manipulating the weather.”

#ShutDownDC
Environmental Protection Agency
District of Columbia
08/07/2025 at 10:00AM

Nominations for Deputy United States Trade Representative for Asia, HHS Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources, HHS General Counsel, Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs

Full committee hearing to consider nominations.

Nominees:

  • Bryan “Rick” Switzer, of Virginia, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Asia, Textiles, Investment, Services, and Intellectual Property), with the rank of Ambassador, vice Sarah Bianchi
  • Gustav Chiarello III, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Financial Resources, vice Robert Michael Gordon
  • Michael B. “Mike” Stuart, of West Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, vice Samuel R. Bagenstos, resigned
  • Derek Theurer, of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs, vice Jonathan Davidson

Switzer served as the Director of Policy and Strategy for the Special Envoy Office for Critical and Emerging Technology (S/TECH) at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to joining S/TECH, Rick was a Senior Fellow at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Rick was also the State Department Chair visiting professor at the National Intelligence University teaching graduate courses on China’s economy and innovation system. He served as a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Council and from 2018 to 2019, and he was a Senior State Department Advisor to the Department of Defense working with the Air Force and the Army. Preceding that he was the Environment, Science, Technology and Health Counselor at Embassy Beijing.

Chiarello most recently was Senior Special Counsel to the House Committee on the Judiciary, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan. He serves on the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, chaired by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald. Previously, Chiarello served as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He also served as an Attorney Advisor to Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen during the first Trump Administration. Chiarello received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Human Resource Management from the Catholic University of America. He also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a law degree from George Mason University.

Stuart currently serves as a West Virginia State Senator. Elected in 2022, he represents the people of Logan, Lincoln, Boone, and Kanawha counties. Previously, Senator Stuart served as a United States District Attorney, as the Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, and as a corporate attorney for Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (corporate services and tax practice group).

Theurer was Republican Chief Tax Counsel for the House Committee on Ways and Means. Previously he served as Senior Tax Counsel for Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, contributing to construction and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He also was Vice President of Tax and Fiscal Policy at the Business Roundtable. He spent the first decade of his career with Exxon Mobil Corporation, working in tax advisory and senior government affairs roles. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Utah State University, a J.D. in Tax Law & Policy Specialization from UCLA School of Law, and an LL.M. in Tax from NYU School of Law.

Senate Finance Committee
215 Dirksen

07/31/2025 at 10:00AM

Congress's role in the regulatory landscape

Subcommittee hearing entitled: “The Future is Loper Bright: Congress’s Role in the Regulatory Landscape.”

Witnesses:

  • Allyson Schwartz, Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (D-PA)
  • Susan Dudley, Distinguished Professor of Practice, Regulatory Studies Center, George Washington University
  • Chad Squitieri, Assistant Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
   Border Management, Federal Workforce and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee
342 Dirksen

07/30/2025 at 02:00PM

Vote on Nominations Including Neil Jacobs for NOAA Administrator, Taylor Jordan for NOAA Deputy Administrator, and Anti-Shark Legislation

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee Executive Session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following:

Agenda:

  • Nomination of Neil Jacobs, of North Carolina, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA Administrator) - Agreed to by voice vote. Markey, Blunt-Rochester, Peters, Duckworth, Hickenlooper, Fetterman, Kim recorded as noes after the fact.

  • Nomination of Paul Roberti, of Rhode Island, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Roll call vote 22-6. R aye: Wicker Fischer Moran Sullivan Blackburn Young Budd Schmitt Moreno Sheehy Capito Lummis. R Aye by proxy: Thune, Curtis. Curtis. D aye: Cantwell Rosen. D aye by proxy: Klobuchar Peters Baldwin Duckworth Fetterman. D no: Markey Luján Hickenlooper Kim Blunt-Rochester Schatz. (Cantwell initially asked for Schatz to be aye by proxy)

  • Nomination of Gregory Zerzan, of Texas, to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation. Roll call vote 15-13. R aye: Wicker Fischer Moran Sullivan Blackburn Young Budd Schmitt Curtis Moreno Sheehy Capito Lummis Cruz. R aye by proxy Thune. D no: Cantwell Klobuchar Schatz Markey Peters Baldwin Duckworth Rosen Luján Hickenlooper Fetterman Kim Blunt-Rochester

  • Nomination of Taylor Jordan, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction (NOAA). Roll call vote: 15-13. Same as above.

  • Nomination of Jonathan Morrison, of California, to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Roll call vote: 16-12. Peters aye by proxy.

  • Nomination of Derek Barrs, of Florida, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Roll call vote: 15-13.

  • Nomination of Michael Rutherford, of Florida, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy. Roll call vote: 15-13.

  • Nomination of Harry Kumar, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Not voted on.

  • Nomination of Seval Oz, of California, to be the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology. Not voted on.

  • Coast Guard Promotions (PN 127-2, PN 367, PN 371, PN 414) - Agreed to by voice vote

  • S.2314, SHARKED Act of 2025 (Scott-FL) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell

  • S.2318, Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act (Blunt-Rochester) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell

  • S.2351, Space Exploration Research Act (Cruz) - Agreed to by voice vote, supported by Cantwell

  • S.1691, Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 (Merkley). Not voted on.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
253 Russell

07/30/2025 at 10:00AM

Markup of Disaster Recovery and other legislation

Full committee markup.

Legislation:

  • S. 854, Risky Research Review Act; 12-3 (Gallego, Slotkin, Kim nay)
  • S. 855, Royalty Transparency Act; 15-0
  • S. 269, Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act; 15-0
  • S. 81, Guidance Clarity Act of 2025;
  • S. 861, Disaster Assistance Simplification Act; 15-0
  • S. 766, Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025; 15-0
  • S. 872, Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025; 15-0
  • S. 727, CBPO Retirement Technical Corrections Act; 15-0
  • S. 874, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act; 15-0
  • S. 594, Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act, to allow non-competitive disaster recovery contracts to last more than 150 days; 15-0
  • S. 865, Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act; 15-0
  • S. 856, Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act; 15-0
  • S. 850, Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act; 15-0
  • S. 848, Reporting Efficiently to Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism (REPORT) Act; 15-0
  • S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. 15-0
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
342 Dirksen

07/30/2025 at 10:00AM

Vote on Nominations of Audrey Robertson (EERE) and Tim Walsh (EM) to be Assistant Secretaries of Energy, and Lanny Erdos to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation

Full committee business meeting.

Nominees:

  • Lanny Erdos, of Ohio, to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
  • Audrey Robertson, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)
  • Timothy John Walsh, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary (Environmental Management), both of the Department of Energy.

The nomination hearing was held on July 9. David Eisner withdrew his nomination to be Department of Energy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs.

Audrey Robinson is an oil executive who “helped found Denver-based Franklin Mountain Energy, a since-sold natural gas fracking firm in the Permian Basin with an open investigation at EPA over recent Clean Air Act violations.” She “also sits on the board of Liberty Energy, the fracking services company led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright until his resignation in January. Earlier in her career, Robertson worked at Goldman Sachs and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, an investment firm focused on fossil fuels.”

Tim Walsh is a Colorado real estate developer who “has donated over $2.5 million to Republican candidates and conservative causes since 2022.”

All nominees were backed 11-9, Justice voting aye by proxy, all Democrats opposed.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
366 Dirksen

07/30/2025 at 09:30AM

POSTPONED Full Committee Markup of FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill

Full committee markup has been postponed.

Budget request:

Department of Labor
Program Name $ Change from 2025 Enacted (in millions) Brief Description of Program and Recommended Reduction or Increase
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Make America Skilled Again (MASA) Grant Consolidation -1,640 States would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship.
Job Corps -1,584 The Budget eliminates Job Corps.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) -405 SCEP is eliminated.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Increases
Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) +500 Building on the work of the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission and Executive Order 14212, “Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission,” the Budget provides $500 million for the MAHA initiative.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) -4,025 The Budget proposes to end this program.
Refugee and Unaccompanied Alien Children Programs (UAC) -1,970 Refugee arrivals have dropped significantly under Executive Order 14163, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” The Budget proposes eliminating these programs.
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) -770 The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Preschool Development Grants (PDG) -315 The Budge proposed to eliminate this program.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Consolidations -1,732 The Budget consolidates a variety of programs that are part of HRSA, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program activities, such as: education and training (-$74 million); multiple Maternal and Child Health programs (-$274 million); multiple Health Workforce Programs (-$1 billion) which provide scholarships and support for individuals to enter medical careers; and family planning programs (-$286 million). The Budget maintains $6 billion for other activities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Programs -3,588 The Budget proposes merging multiple programs into one grant program. Specifically, the Budget proposes consolidating funding for Infectious Disease and Opioids, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Tuberculosis programs into one grant program funded at $300 million. The Budget eliminates programs including: the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion; National Center for Environmental Health; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; the Global Health Center; Public Health Preparedness and Response; and the Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant. The Budget maintains more than $4 billion for CDC.
National Institute of Health (NIH) -17,965 The Budget proposes to consolidate multiple programs into five new focus areas with associated spending cuts: the National Institute on Body Systems Research; National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Institute of Disability Related Research; and National Institute on Behavioral Health. The Budget also eliminates funding for the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities (-$534 million), the Fogarty International Center (-$95 million), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (-$170 million), and the National Institute of Nursing Research (-$198 million). This new structure retains the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The Budget maintains $27 billion for NIH research.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Eliminations -1,065 The Budget proposes to eliminate SAMHSA and eliminate funding for the Mental Health Programs of Regional and National Significance, Substance Use Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance, and the Substance Use Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) -129 The Budget eliminates funding for grants and contracts. In the Budget, AHRQ’s functions would be a part of the new HHS Office of Strategy.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Program Management -674 The Budget eliminates health equity-focused activities and Inflation Reduction Act-related outreach and education activities.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Hospital Preparedness Program -240 The Budget eliminates funding for ASPR’s Hospital Preparedness Program.
Administration for a Healthy America— Sexual Risk Avoidance Program and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, HHS Office on Women’s Health, HHS Office of Minority Health -180 The Budget eliminates the Sexual Risk Avoidance Program. The Budget also eliminates the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. The Budget also reduces funding levels for the HHS Office of Minority Health and Office on Women’s Health. These programs are under the Office of Assistant Secretary of Health. Consistent with the recently announced HHS reorganization, the Budget relocates these programs within the newly formed Administration for Healthy America.
Department of Education (ED)
Increases
Charter Schools +60 The Budget invests $500 million, a $60 million increase, to expand the number of charter schools.
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
Replace K-12 Programs with state grants -4,535 The K-12 Simplified Funding Program consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new $2 billion formula grant. The Budget preserves full funding for Title I, the supplemental Federal financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families.
Special Education Simplified Funding Program -- The Special Education Simplified Funding Program consolidates seven Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs into a formula grant.
TRIO programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) -1,579 TRIO and GEAR UP are eliminated.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) -980 The Budget cuts FWS and distributes remaining funding to institutions that serve the most low-income students and provide a wage subsidy to gain career-oriented opportunities to improve long-term employment outcomes of students.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) -910 The Budget proposes to eliminate SEOG.
English Language Acquisition -890 The Budget proposes to eliminate the English Language Acquisition program.
Adult Education -729 The Budget proposes to eliminate Adult Education programs.
Migrant Education and Special Programs for Migrant Students -428 The Budget eliminates these programs.
ED Program Administration -127 The Budget provides $293 million for program administration, a reduction of $127 million, or 30 percent with the intention of eliminating the Department of Education.
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Ed (FIPSE) and Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need -195 The Budget proposes eliminating this program.
Strengthening Institutions -112 The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Teacher Quality Partnerships -70 The Budget proposes to eliminate this program.
Training and Advisory Services— Equity Assistance Centers -7 The Budget eliminates Equity Assistance Centers.
Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) -75 The Budget proposes to eliminate CCAMPIS.
Howard University -64 The Budget reduces funding for Howard University to the 2021 Budget level.
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) -49 The Budget provides OCR with $91 million, a reduction of $49 million, or 35 percent, compared to the 2024 enacted level.
Small Agency Eliminations
Cuts, Reductions, and Consolidations
  • 400 Years of African American History Commission
  • Corporation for National and Community Service (operating as AmeriCorps)
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
  • Institute of Museum and Library Sciences
  • Inter-American Foundation
  • Marine Mammal Commission
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
  • U.S. African Development Foundation
  • U.S. Agency for Global Media
  • U.S. Institute of Peace
  • U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • Woodrow Wilson Center
  • Presidio Trust
-3,586 The Budget includes the elimination of, or the elimination of Federal funding for, the following small agencies. Agencies in bold are in these appropriations bills.
  • Delta Regional Authority
  • Denali Commission
  • Northern Border Regional Commission
  • Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
  • Southwest Border Regional Commission
  • Great Lakes Authority
The Budget eliminates six small regional commissions. The Budget continues funding for Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) operations at $14 million.
House Appropriations Committee
2359 Rayburn

07/24/2025 at 10:00AM