Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said recent layoffs at EPA, coupled with Zeldin's comments about sharp spending cuts, show he had no intent to follow through on a pledge during his confirmation hearing to work collaboratively with EPA's staff.

During the first meeting of his cabinet, President Donald Trump said EPA sdministrator and Long Island native Lee Zeldin informed him the agency could see its staff cut by more than a half.