Senate Confirms President Trump Appointee Aaron Szabo as Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate has confirmed Aaron Szabo to serve as the Assistant Administrator of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump, Aaron Szabo will work in his new role to advance the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative.
“Aaron has over 10 years of service in the federal government working in various roles to improve the lives of all Americans. He knows firsthand how important it is to have access to clean air and is uniquely and highly qualified to lead the Office of Air and Radiation. I look forward to continue working with him to carry out our mission of protecting human health and the environment,” said Administrator Lee Zeldin.
“Thank you to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for the privilege of leading the amazing career and political staff in EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. I look forward to continuing our focus on our core mission of protecting human health and the environment by providing clean air for all Americans,” said Assistant Administrator for Air Aaron Szabo. “We will continue the ambitious and robust agenda set forth in this Administration to Power the Great American Comeback.”
The Office of Air and Radiation develops national programs, policies, and regulations that protect Americans’ health and the environment by addressing industrial and transportation emissions, monitoring air quality, facility permitting, radiation protection, indoor air, and preserving and restoring the stratospheric ozone layer. As Assistant Administrator, Szabo will lead the Office of Air and Radiation’s implementation of key provisions of several of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws including the Clean Air Act and the Atomic Energy Act.
Since January 20, 2025, Szabo has been a Senior Advisor to Administrator Zeldin. Prior to EPA, Szabo served as a federal civil servant, first at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where he worked on nuclear power plant issues and regulations, and then at the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, where he worked on major climate and air regulations. He continued his career civil service as the Senior Counsel at the Council on Environmental Quality, where his role expanded to include the National Environmental Policy Act and federal sustainability issues. After more than ten years of federal government service, Szabo joined a government advocacy and consulting company where he provided strategic advice and advocacy to companies looking to engage with the federal government. In 2023, Szabo became a government and regulatory affairs attorney at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, focusing on environmental and energy issues. Szabo holds degrees in economics, government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a law degree from George Washington University Law School.
Learn more about EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.
Here’s what people are saying about Aaron Szabo’s presidential appointment:
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV): “Mr. Szabo is well-qualified to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at the EPA, and he will play a central role in refocusing the agency back to its core mission alongside Administrator Zeldin. I have confidence Mr. Szabo will help roll back the previous administration’s extreme regulatory attacks on reliable energy, American manufacturing, and affordable vehicles that meet the needs of consumers. His depth of experience will guide the agency’s use of statutory authority and enforcement tools that impact states and regulated entities. I look forward to working with him to increase energy production, enable innovation, and unleash economic growth while protecting the environment.”
Senator John Husted (R-OH): “Aaron understands firsthand how to promote successful growth and a healthy environment. He knows how to serve our communities by keeping their air clean, and I look forward to his work to support Americans’ health while the administration helps power the Great American Comeback.”
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy Executive Director Kevin Fay: “We believe Mr. Szabo has the experience and drive to achieve environmental goals and economic success from our industries. We believe he will continue to work hard to find consensus where possible and identify paths forward for mutual success.”
The Aluminum Association, American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Iron and Steel Institute, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, The Fertilizer Institute, Industrial Energy Consumers of America, Institute of Makers of Explosives, National Propane Gas Association, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, National Wooden Pallet & Container Association, Portland Cement Association, and Steel Manufacturers Association: “We believe that Aaron Szabo is an excellent choice to fight for manufacturing in America, and we offer our strong endorsement for his confirmation as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation of the EPA. Szabo’s career as a public servant makes him eminently qualified for this nomination. His work spanned three Presidential administrations. At the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and within the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Aaron was at the forefront, analyzing and providing sound counsel on numerous air quality and permitting reform regulations. Szabo will work with Administrator Zeldin tirelessly to implement President Trump’s smart regulatory policy that aims to put America first.”
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock and American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Jackson Morrill: “We believe that Mr. Szabo is eminently qualified for this very important role and will implement President Trump’s regulatory agenda in a thoughtful and well-informed manner. We are familiar with Mr. Szabo from his public service for over a decade, including at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We believe that Mr. Szabo is a highly capable and pragmatic nominee who would help implement reasonable and evidence‐based regulations that follow the intent of Congress to protect the environment without unintentionally causing more harm than good.”
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor: “We congratulate Assistant Administrator Szabo on his confirmation. We look forward to working with him to build on EPA’s momentum in delivering a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and expanding access to lower-cost fuels like E15. . .Szabo brings more than a decade of public service and regulatory experience to this important role. His leadership will be essential to ensuring homegrown, American biofuels continue to play a central role in improving our nation’s environment while growing the bioeconomy.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Senior VP Louis Finkel: “Recent EPA actions directly targeting critical, always available generation sources – namely coal- and natural gas-fired power plants – are not only unlawful but are barriers to the Trump Administration’s vision of American energy dominance. The Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Rule is particularly harmful to electricity reliability and affordability. EPA, under the leadership of Aaron Szabo, can address this challenge by immediately repealing the rule as well as other unlawful actions and replacing them with commonsense policies consistent with the laws Congress enacted. NRECA is proud to support Aaron Szabo’s nominations as an Assistant Administrator... and looks forward to working with [him] to advance U.S. energy security and reliability.”
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) COO Daniel Naatz: “Aaron Szabo [is] extremely qualified and possess the knowledge, experience, and executive skills to be [an] outstanding leader at the EPA... His unique experience gives him a sound perspective on the dynamic nature between regulators and the industry it is regulating. The Office of Air and Radiation plays an extremely important role for the American oil and natural gas producers, and it is important to have an Assistant Administrator who has the qualifications to understand the detailed nature of the issues facing our industry. Mr. Szabo is an exceptional candidate that certainly meets all those qualifications.”
Steel Manufacturers Association: “Congratulations to Aaron Szabo on his confirmation as assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Air. We look forward to continuing to work with [him] and the great team at EPA to ensure regulations are protective of the environment and the economy.”