Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said recent layoffs at EPA, coupled with Zeldin's comments about sharp spending cuts, show he had no intent to follow through on a pledge during his confirmation hearing to work collaboratively with EPA's staff.

Zeldin’s remarks came after President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Zeldin planned to cut EPA’s workforce by 65 percent. That announcement stunned EPA employees and the agency’s supporters, and the White House issued a statement later Wednesday to say that Trump was referring to a 65 percent overall cut in EPA spending.