EPA chief shuts down Biden ‘environmental justice’ museum costing taxpayers $315 per visitor

The Biden administration’s Washington, D.C., museum devoted to “environmental justice” and “climate change” has been visited by fewer than 2,000 people yet costs American taxpayers $315 per visitor to remain in operation.

That’s why Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin is shutting down the museum, in keeping with President Donald Trump’s agenda to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.

In a video announcement Monday on X, Zeldin walked through the building, explaining to Americans the museum presents an “ideologically slanted partial story” of what the EPA is about. 
 
“This museum claims EPA pursues its mission by advancing environmental justice, equity, and civil rights compliance,” he noted, adding that a “timeline of key events conveniently omits any mention of President Trump’s first administration.” 

On the agency’s website, a press release notes that EPA staff “amount to more than 40% of visitors,” and that “[t]he museum conveniently omits any environmental progress between 2014 and January 20, 2021, despite significant accomplishments during the first Trump administration, including a reduction in emissions.” 

“The American people saw significant improvement in air quality and the first ever comprehensive nationwide action plan to address PFAS,” the news release states, referring to “forever chemicals” that break down very slowly over time. 

Detailing the costs to American taxpayers to keep the museum in operation, Zeldin observed it was “built and curated by the Biden administration, with $4 million in taxpayer dollars”: 

“As if this wasn’t enough of a price tag to fill a room the size of an apartment, this shrine to environmental justice and climate change costs the American taxpayer $600,000 to operate annually.  

“This agency has been spending $123,000 on cleaning, $207,000 for security, $54,000 on maintenance, and an additional $54,000 on storage. From May 2024, through last month, only 1,909 members of the public visited the museum, even though it is free admission. This museum costs you, the taxpayer, $315 per external visitor.” 

The Biden administration opened the museum in May 2024. 

Then-EPA Administrator Michael Regan applauded the project, claiming it was evidence of “our nation’s work to protect public health and the environment,” the New York Sun reported. 

In July of last year, the House Oversight Committee posted a video of Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, confronting Regan for refusing to admit to granting $50 million in taxpayer funds to a climate justice group that promoted anti-police and pro-Hamas agendas. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the museum’s closure at the daily press briefing Tuesday.  

“I have pledged to be an exceptional steward of taxpayer dollars, so this shrine to ‘EJ’ and climate change will now be shut down for good,” Zeldin asserted in his video announcement, but vowed still to “do my part to help the American people learn more about the amazing work of our agency to provide cleaner, healthier and safer land, air and water.” 

Zeldin has been avidly working to eliminate wasteful spending in his agency. Thus far, he has canceled more than $22 billion in wasteful grants and contracts, according to EPA’s press release.