Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Seal of the Environmental Protection Agency
Incumbent Lee Zeldin since January 29, 2025
Member of	Cabinet
Inaugural holder	William D. Ruckelshaus
Formation	1970

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the person in charge of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This important job means they are responsible for making sure the country follows laws that protect our environment. These laws include the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, which help keep our air and water clean.

The President of the United States chooses who will be the Administrator. After the President chooses someone, the Senate must vote to approve them. This makes sure the person is right for the job.

Lee Zeldin is the current Administrator of the EPA.

What is the EPA Administrator's Role?

The Administrator of the EPA is like the leader of a team that works to protect nature. They make sure that rules are followed to keep our planet healthy. This includes preventing pollution and cleaning up harmful waste.

Part of the President's Cabinet

Since the 1990s, the EPA Administrator has been part of the President's Cabinet. This means they are one of the President's top advisors. They help the President make big decisions about the country.

Being in the Cabinet shows how important environmental protection is to the government. In other countries, a similar job might be called the "Minister of the Environment." There have been ideas to make the EPA a full government department, just like the Department of Defense or the Department of Education.

Who Has Been the Administrator?

Many people have served as the Administrator of the EPA since it was created in 1970. Some people serve as "acting" administrators for a short time. This usually happens when a new President takes office or when a full Administrator leaves before a new one is approved.

     Denotes Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

No.	Officeholder		Term Start	Term End	President(s)
1		Ruckelshaus, WilliamWilliam Ruckelshaus	December 4, 1970	April 30, 1973		Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon (1969–1974)
–		Fri, Robert W.Robert W. Fri Acting	April 30, 1973	September 12, 1973
2		Train, Russell E.Russell E. Train	September 12, 1973	January 20, 1977
						Ford, GeraldGerald Ford (1974–1977)
–		Quarles Jr., JohnJohn Quarles Jr. Acting	January 21, 1977	March 6, 1977		Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter (1977–1981)
3		Costle, Douglas M.Douglas M. Costle	March 7, 1977	January 20, 1981
–		Jellinek, StevenSteven Jellinek Acting	January 21, 1981	January 25, 1981		Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (1981–1989)
–		Barber Jr., WalterWalter Barber Jr. Acting	January 25, 1981	May 19, 1981
4		Gorsuch Burford, AnneAnne Gorsuch Burford	May 20, 1981	March 9, 1983
–		Verstandig, LeeLee Verstandig Acting	March 10, 1983	May 17, 1983
5		Ruckelshaus, WilliamWilliam Ruckelshaus	May 18, 1983	January 4, 1985
6		Thomas, Lee M.Lee M. Thomas	January 4, 1985	February 8, 1985
			February 8, 1985	January 20, 1989
–		Moore, JohnJohn Moore Acting	January 20, 1989	February 6, 1989		Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)
7		Reilly, William K.William K. Reilly	February 6, 1989	January 20, 1993
–		McCabe, W. MichaelW. Michael McCabe Acting	January 20, 1993	January 31, 1993		Clinton, BillBill Clinton (1993–2001)
8		Browner, CarolCarol Browner	January 31, 1993	January 20, 2001
9		Whitman, Christine ToddChristine Todd Whitman	January 31, 2001	June 27, 2003		Bush, George W.George W. Bush (2001–2009)
–		Fisher, LindaLinda Fisher Acting	June 27, 2003	July 14, 2003
–		Horinko, Marianne LamontMarianne Lamont Horinko Acting	July 14, 2003	November 5, 2003
10		Leavitt, MikeMike Leavitt	November 6, 2003	January 26, 2005
11		Johnson, Stephen L.Stephen L. Johnson	January 26, 2005	May 2, 2005
			May 2, 2005	January 20, 2009
–		Nakayama, GrantaGranta Nakayama Acting	January 20, 2009	January 21, 2009		Obama, BarackBarack Obama (2009–2017)
–		Shapiro, MikeMike Shapiro Acting	January 21, 2009	January 23, 2009
12		Jackson, Lisa P.Lisa P. Jackson	January 23, 2009	February 15, 2013
–		Perciasepe, BobBob Perciasepe Acting	February 15, 2013	July 18, 2013
13		McCarthy, GinaGina McCarthy	July 18, 2013	January 20, 2017
–		McCabe, CatherineCatherine McCabe Acting	January 20, 2017	February 17, 2017		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2017–2021)
14		Pruitt, ScottScott Pruitt	February 17, 2017	July 9, 2018
15		Wheeler, Andrew R.Andrew R. Wheeler	July 9, 2018	February 28, 2019
			February 28, 2019	January 20, 2021
–		Bertrand, CharlotteCharlotte Bertrand Acting	January 20, 2021	January 20, 2021		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (2021–2025)
–		Nishida, JaneJane Nishida Acting	January 20, 2021	March 11, 2021
16		Regan, Michael S.Michael S. Regan	March 11, 2021	December 31, 2024
–		Nishida, JaneJane Nishida Acting	January 1, 2025	January 20, 2025
–		Payne, JamesJames Payne Acting	January 20, 2025	January 29, 2025		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2025–present)
17		Zeldin, LeeLee Zeldin	January 29, 2025	present

Acting Administrators Explained

Sometimes, a person serves as an "acting" administrator. This means they are temporarily in charge. They step in when the previous administrator leaves and before a new one is officially approved. This often happens when a new President takes office.

Acting administrators usually come from within the EPA. They might be a Deputy Administrator or another high-ranking official. They do not need Senate approval to be an acting administrator. However, if they are chosen to become the full Administrator, they must be approved by the Senate.

See also

In Spanish: Administrador de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental para niños