Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Business Insider reported that former Rep. Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick to lead the EPA, made $186,000 from paid op-eds and speeches where he criticized ESG and responsible investing policies.
In response, Unlocking America’s Future Spokesperson Kyle Herrig said the following:
“Despite Trump claiming he supports the free market, former Rep. Lee Zeldin’s nomination to lead the EPA shows he was part of a well-funded, coordinated campaign targeting American businesses, investors, and consumers—fighting against the American people having the freedom to invest in a sustainable future. A person more interested in pushing blatantly harmful policies rather than helping grow the American economy and protecting Americans’ savings has no business leading such an important agency.”
Additional Background:
- For example, in August 2024, Zeldin published a guest essay in New York Newsday entitled “War on ESG investing must shift focus to proxy advisers.” In the essay, Zeldin attacked “Wall Street and special interests” for trying to “force environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, policies into our workplace, retirements, and lives.”
- In another op-ed published in March 2023 for Real Clear Policy, Zeldin called on Congress to investigate ESG practices and the nonprofit watchdog Better Markets.
