CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Senate confirmed multiple nominees to President Joe Biden’s Cabinet on Wednesday, including the next leader of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Senators approved the nominations of Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, federal Judge Merrick Garland as attorney general and North Carolina official Michael Regan as EPA administrator, with each vote bipartisan.
Regan has served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality since January 2017 and worked in the EPA during the Clinton and Bush administrations. Regan is the first Black male to lead the federal agency.
The Senate voted 66-34 to confirm Regan; Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., voted in support of the nomination while Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., opposed confirmation. When the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted last month on Regan, Capito was one of six Republicans who opposed advancing the nomination to the full chamber.
Capito, the committee’s ranking member, has shared her respect for Regan’s qualifications but also concerns he will not challenge Biden’s agenda on climate change.
“I cannot support that agenda,” she said Wednesday.
Capito previously raised concerns regarding some of Biden’s choices for his administration, including former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy as the White House’s climate advisor and former Secretary of State John Kerry as climate envoy. She has also criticized the Biden administration’s early actions related to climate change, including the president’s cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline permit and recommitment to the Paris climate accord.
Capito said Regan would not commit to “real changes” because the administration has already established the climate agenda.
“Throughout his confirmation process, Secretary Regan did not commit to a different policy agenda than the Obama administration, an agenda that absolutely devastated my state and other energy-producing states,” she said.
North Carolina’s senators — Republicans Richard Burr and Thom Tillis — spoke favorably of Regan during the committee’s Feb. 3 hearing. Burr said Wednesday following Capito’s remarks that Regan is suited for the job.
“You will consistently hear from those who have worked with him in this role that whether they agree or disagree on a given policy, he always listens and looks to find agreement,” he said. “This type of praise is not easy to come by on environmental matters, but it is exactly what we should ask of any nominee to ensure everyone gets a fair hearing at their agency.”
Capito noted she welcomes all efforts to collaborate with the Biden administration, but recent actions by White House officials have made her doubtful about any progress.
“I’m very skeptical that the next four years will be any better than the eight years of economic devastation brought on by President Obama’s EPA,” she said.
“But you know what? I hope he proves me wrong. I hope he makes good on his promise to work with Republicans to help address climate issues.”
Manchin applauded Regan’s bipartisan efforts as well as the North Carolinian’s dedication to protecting the United States’ energy independence.
“Mr. Regan has proven his willingness to work across the aisle to implement commonsense policies that help states like West Virginia that have been impacted by changing energy markets,” Manchin said.
Capito’s vote opposing the Regan nomination marked the second time she has voted against confirming a Cabinet nominee; she opposed the president’s choice of former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to lead the Department of Energy.
The Senate voted to confirm Fudge and Garland 66-34 and 70-30 respectively. Manchin and Capito supported the nominations.