Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency |
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![]() Seal of the Environmental Protection Agency
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Member of | Cabinet |
Inaugural holder | William D. Ruckelshaus |
Formation | 1970 |
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the main leader of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This person is in charge of making sure the United States follows laws that protect our environment. These laws include the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.
The President of the United States chooses who will be the Administrator. Then, the Senate must agree with the President's choice.
Currently, Lee Zeldin is the Administrator of the EPA.
Contents
What the Administrator Does
The Administrator leads the EPA in its mission to protect human health and the environment. This means they oversee efforts to control pollution and clean up hazardous waste. They also work to make sure environmental rules are fair and effective.
Role in the Government
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. In other countries, this role is often called the "minister of the environment." There have been ideas to make the EPA a full government department, like the Department of Defense or the Department of Education.
Leaders of the EPA
Here is a list of the people who have served as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Denotes Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
No. | Officeholder | Term Start | Term End | President(s) | ||
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William Ruckelshaus | December 4, 1970 | April 30, 1973 | Richard Nixon (1969–1974) |
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Robert W. Fri Acting |
April 30, 1973 | September 12, 1973 | |||
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Russell E. Train | September 12, 1973 | January 20, 1977 | ||
Gerald Ford (1974–1977) |
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John Quarles Jr. Acting |
January 21, 1977 | March 6, 1977 | Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) |
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Douglas M. Costle | March 7, 1977 | January 20, 1981 | ||
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Steven Jellinek Acting |
January 21, 1981 | January 25, 1981 | Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) |
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Walter Barber Jr. Acting |
January 25, 1981 | May 19, 1981 | |||
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Anne Gorsuch Burford | May 20, 1981 | March 9, 1983 | ||
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Lee Verstandig Acting |
March 10, 1983 | May 17, 1983 | ||
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William Ruckelshaus | May 18, 1983 | January 4, 1985 | ||
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Lee M. Thomas | January 4, 1985 | February 8, 1985 | ||
February 8, 1985 | January 20, 1989 | |||||
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John Moore Acting |
January 20, 1989 | February 6, 1989 | George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) |
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William K. Reilly | February 6, 1989 | January 20, 1993 | ||
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W. Michael McCabe Acting |
January 20, 1993 | January 31, 1993 | Bill Clinton (1993–2001) |
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Carol Browner | January 31, 1993 | January 20, 2001 | ||
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Christine Todd Whitman | January 31, 2001 | June 27, 2003 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
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Linda Fisher Acting |
June 27, 2003 | July 14, 2003 | |||
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Marianne Lamont Horinko Acting |
July 14, 2003 | November 5, 2003 | |||
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Mike Leavitt | November 6, 2003 | January 26, 2005 | ||
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Stephen L. Johnson | January 26, 2005 | May 2, 2005 | ||
May 2, 2005 | January 20, 2009 | |||||
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Granta Nakayama Acting |
January 20, 2009 | January 21, 2009 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
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Mike Shapiro Acting |
January 21, 2009 | January 23, 2009 | ||
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Lisa P. Jackson | January 23, 2009 | February 15, 2013 | ||
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Bob Perciasepe Acting |
February 15, 2013 | July 18, 2013 | ||
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Gina McCarthy | July 18, 2013 | January 20, 2017 | ||
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Catherine McCabe Acting |
January 20, 2017 | February 17, 2017 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
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Scott Pruitt | February 17, 2017 | July 9, 2018 | ||
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Andrew R. Wheeler | July 9, 2018 | February 28, 2019 | ||
February 28, 2019 | January 20, 2021 | |||||
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Charlotte Bertrand Acting |
January 20, 2021 | January 20, 2021 | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
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Jane Nishida Acting |
January 20, 2021 | March 11, 2021 | ||
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Michael S. Regan | March 11, 2021 | December 31, 2024 | ||
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Jane Nishida Acting |
January 1, 2025 | January 20, 2025 | ||
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James Payne Acting |
January 20, 2025 | January 29, 2025 | Donald Trump (2025–present) |
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Lee Zeldin | January 29, 2025 | present |
Acting Administrators
Sometimes, an "Acting Administrator" takes charge of the EPA for a short time. This usually happens when the previous Administrator has left, and a new one has not yet been officially chosen and approved. These acting leaders come from within the EPA. They do not need Senate approval to serve as acting Administrator. However, if they are later chosen to be the full Administrator, they must be approved by the Senate.
See also
In Spanish: Administrador de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental para niños