U.S. Senator Katie Britt on Tuesday shared that she met with former U.S. Reps. Doug Collins and Lee Zeldin about their upcoming roles in the Trump administration.
Collins, an Airforce veteran and chaplain, has been announced as Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. He began representing Georgia in the U.S. House in 2013 eventually leaving office in 2021. Collins was the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee in 2019. During his military career, he served at Balad Air Base in Iraq in 2008 with the 94th Airlift Wing.
“Honored to accept President Trump’s nomination as Secretary of Veterans Affairs,” Collins said in a statement on X following the news of his nomination. “Our heroes deserve the best care and support. We’ll fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned. Together, we’ll make the VA work for those who fought for us. Time to deliver for our veterans and give them the world-class care they deserve.”
After meeting with Collins, Britt praised him for his understanding of the military community’s needs.
Our veterans deserve nothing less than the best—@realDonaldTrump, @RepDougCollins & I agree, & we're ready to deliver results.
Doug understands our military community’s needs from his service as an Air Force Reserve Colonel & chaplain. Great meeting about his vision for the VA. pic.twitter.com/q4KLhp2w5x
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) December 3, 2024
Lee Zeldin of New York, another veteran with years of legislative experience, has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin represented New York’s First Congressional District from 2015-2023. Additionally, he was sworn into the New York State Bar at 23, making him the youngest attorney in the state. Zeldin ran for Governor of New York in 2022, eventually losing in what was reportedly the closest governor’s race in the state since 1994.
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“It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin said after being nominated. “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
Britt issued her full support of Zeldin, highlighting the portion of their conversation on bureaucratic overreach.
Our next EPA administrator, @leezeldin, is committed to unleashing American energy dominance, strengthening auto manufacturing, & protecting access to clean air & water. I enjoyed our discussion about fighting bureaucratic overreach & how he will advance President Trump’s agenda. pic.twitter.com/gD1IZTVu8K
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) December 3, 2024
The Senate confirmation process has slowed considerably in recent years. For example, Clinton, Bush, and Obama all had over 200 nominees confirmed by 200 days in office. In comparison, Trump had 119 and Biden had 118 confirmed nominees by the same point.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
