In March, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin denied NY Times reporting that the agency would eliminate its research arm. On Friday, the EPA did just that.

On the March 18 edition of Fox Business’ Varney & Co., Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin was asked about reporting from The New York Times that he planned to “fire more than 1,000 scientists in an effort to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.” Zeldin replied that “The New York Times is ahead of their skis doing a face plant on this one.”

Claiming that “President Trump has directed the executive branch, all departments and agencies, to look for ways within our department to best serve the American public,” Zeldin deflected that “at the end of the day, we are about powering the great American comeback, making sure that cleaner, safer, healthier land, air, water, for all Americans are achieved” — in part by “unleashing American energy dominance, making America the AI capital of the world,” and “pursuing permitting reform.”

Guest host Ashley Webster pressed Zeldin on his response: “So, you’re not confirming The New York Times report?” 

Zeldin replied that while “a decision is something that we are working through … across all offices of EPA” to “always look for ways to operate better [and] more efficiently,” he repeated that “no, The New York Times is way ahead of their skis on this one.”