Administrator Lee Zeldin Fulfills Pledge to Visit All 50 States this Year, Bringing EPA Directly to the American People

WASHINGTON – Since getting confirmed by the United States Senate on January 29, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has now traveled to all fifty states across the country to hear directly from the American people about the challenges facing their communities, and better inform policy decisions to be made at EPA. Throughout his travels, Administrator Zeldin shared one goal with everyone he met, and that is to fix everything.

As a direct result, the Trump EPA made major progress for the American people from coast to coast. The agency signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Mexico to permanently and urgently end the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis in Southern California. Two years were removed off the remediation timeline at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site, where nuclear waste remains to be cleaned up. Section 179(b) guidance on international air pollution was rescinded to help states like Utah and Arizona. Guidance on Diesel Exhaust Fuel (DEF) was updated so farmers and truckers don’t have to deal with deratements putting them out of work, and many more steps have been taken to provide Americans relief nationwide.

Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, record breaking investment has been pouring into our nation. Administrator Zeldin spent time this year traveling from groundbreaking to groundbreaking, where massive new projects are being built to unleash energy dominance, grow our economy, and power the artificial intelligence revolution. He’s visited new data centers being built in West Memphis, Arkansas, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, nuclear energy projects in places like Idaho Falls, Idaho, and flourishing mining operations in Utah and Kentucky.

The Administrator devoted much of his time, especially earlier in the year, to surveying EPA emergency response efforts firsthand. In first trip as Administrator, he accompanied Vice President JD Vance to Ohio on the two-year anniversary of the East Palestine train derailment. In response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, he prioritized visiting early on to oversee EPA’s historic wildfire cleanup effort as lead agency, removing hazardous waste and greenlighting over 13,000 properties to undergo Phase 2 debris removal in under 30 days. He traveled to Western North Carolina as efforts to rebuild from Hurricane Helene were focused on ensuring residents had access to clean drinking water. He also visited Flint, Michigan, where EPA has since lifted its emergency order on drinking water, and Maui, Hawaii, as the local community continues to recover from deadly wildfires over two years ago.

Most importantly, the Administrator brought the EPA to the American people, witnessing the work the agency is doing in all fifty states. From Brownfields to Superfund Cleanups to meeting with regional staff and heads of geographic programs, the Administrator has dedicated much of his time to overseeing the ways EPA delivers clean air, land, and water for Americans every single day.

“From business owners to trade workers, elected officials to residents impacted by environmental challenges, I’ve been soliciting feedback on any and every way the Trump EPA can fix everything. It’s been an honor to get to every corner of this great nation, meeting with incredible people who share our pride and passion of being exceptional stewards of our environment. While I am honored to personally bring the EPA to all fifty states, I look forward to continuing to get out of the beltway to hear directly from Americans about ways we can continue to fix everything. No challenge is too large, and no ask is too small. Together, we are Powering the Great American Comeback,” said Administrator Zeldin.

In addition to stateside travel, the Administrator also traveled to Mexico City, Mexico, to sign the previously referenced MOU and Toronto, Canada, for the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Summit.