Michael Regan confirmed as head of Environmental Protection Agency

With a 66-34 vote, the Senate on Wednesday afternoon confirmed Michael Regan as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Regan, 44, will be the first Black man to lead the agency. He most recently served as secretary of North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality, and before that was at the Environmental Defense Fund. In college, he landed a summer internship at the EPA, and later worked there during the George W. Bush and Clinton administrations.

During his Senate confirmation hearing last month, Regan said he will "move with a sense of urgency" to deal with the climate crisis, and make it a priority to "restore the role of science and transparency at EPA." He also pledged to "support the dedicated and talented career officials" at the agency and "stand up for environmental justice and equity."

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