Closure of National Environmental Museum and Education Center by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin closes Biden-era EPA museum after costing taxpayers millions to build and operating at a loss due to low visitor numbers.
Key Points
- Museum cost $4 million to build and over $600,000 annually to operate
- Received less than 2,000 external visitors from May 2024-February 2025
- Focused on environmental justice and climate change content, neglecting bipartisan achievements
- Operational costs breakdown includes cleaning, maintenance, security, and utility expenses
- Closure seen as a move to cut costs and refocus EPA priorities under Zeldin's leadership
Pros
- Saving taxpayer money by shutting down an underutilized museum
- Returning funds to the EPA's core mission of protecting the environment
Cons
- Loss of a public educational resource
- Potential backlash from supporters of the Biden administration's environmental initiatives