Maryland’s freshman senator was in the spotlight Thursday as she had a chance to question some of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is questioning the nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, in a confirmation hearing Thursday.

Senate Committee hearing on the nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, enjoyed a fairly easy confirmation hearing Thursday. Zeldin, in testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,

I believe that climate change is real,” Zeldin said, adding that he would work to “ensure we are protecting our environment, while also protecting our economy.”

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Jeff Merkley Grills Lee Zeldin—Trump’s EPA Administrator Nominee—About Paid Op-Eds At a Senate Environment & Public Works Committee hearing on Thursday, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) questioned Lee Zeldin,

The Vermont senator took a dig at President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr. Zeldin, a Trump loyalist, would be charged with dismantling climate rules and perhaps the agency itself. He faced questions from the Senate Thursday.

WASHINGTON -- Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin denied that he will favor industry over the environment and declared he thinks climate change is real as he faced questions Thursday on his nomination to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Since launching in 2021, America First Policy Institute has been known colloquially around Washington, D.C., as Donald Trump's "Cabinet in waiting."