New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert says EPA chief Lee Zeldin has rescinded regulations, cut or eliminated departments and terminated the jobs of many scientists. Trump calls Zeldin "our secret weapon."
Why This Matters
The transformation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Lee Zeldin's leadership has significant implications for the nation's environmental policies and public health. As the EPA's head, Zeldin has implemented changes that have drawn criticism from environmental advocates. The agency's shift in priorities has sparked debate about the role of government in regulating industry.
In Week 18 2026, Science accounted for 17 related article(s), with UK Politics setting the broader headline context. Coverage of Science decreased by 13 article(s) versus the prior week, but remained material in the weekly agenda.
Coverage Snapshot
Week 18 2026 included 17 Science article(s). Leading outlets for this topic included Independent, NY Times, NPR. Across that cluster, sentiment showed a mostly neutral skew (avg score 0.05).
Key Insights
Tone & Sentiment
The article tone is classified as neutral, driven by the language and emphasis in the summary. The sentiment score of -0.03 indicates the strength of that tone.
Context
The trend of deregulation and industry-friendly policies has been a hallmark of the current administration's approach to environmental governance. Media outlets have widely covered the EPA's changes, with some outlets focusing on the economic benefits of reduced regulations and others highlighting the potential environmental costs. The New Yorker's Elizabeth Kolbert has been a vocal critic of the EPA's actions, while President Trump has praised Zeldin's leadership.
Related Topics
Key Takeaway
In short, this article underscores key movement in Science and explains why it matters now.