The former New York congressman has little experience in environmental policy. He is expected to follow orders to weaken climate rules.

Several Democrats voted in favor of Zeldin, a former lawmaker from New York who will oversee an agency tasked with protecting the environment and public health.

The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles. The vote was 56-42 in Zeldin's favor.