WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- On Thursday we got a more detailed look at the Trump administration's plans for the environment through two key nominees.  The president-elect's picks to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior testified in front of the Senate. Those hearings showcased just how sharply the Trump climate agenda contrasts with the policies of the current White House.  Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin is President-elect Trump's nominee for EPA administrator. He emphasized a desire to prioritize the economy when reconsidering environmental policies.  "We can and we must protect our precious environment without suffocating the economy," Zeldin said.  The incoming president has been very critical of environmental reforms that the Biden administration championed and has promised to roll back a lot of the climate regulations.  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) warned against walking back those new green regulations.  "Not only would reversing these protections harm, our air water public health, and climate doing so would also cost Americans money," Whitehouse said.  Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) asked Zeldin if he agreed with President-elect Trump's claim that climate change is "a hoax"  "I believe that climate change is real, as I told you," Zeldin responded but he also defended the President-elect's past criticism of climate policies.  "He's concerned about the economic costs of some policies where there's a debate," Zeldin said.  Trump tapped former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to be his nominee for Interior Secretary. At his hearing, Burgum talked about the administration's plans to boost U.S. energy production.  "President Trump's energy dominance can be America's big stick, that would be leveraged to achieve historic prosperity and world peace," Burgum said.  He argues that their new energy policies will make life more affordable for Americans and improve national security.  "When energy production is restricted in America, It doesn't reduce the demand, it just shifts productions to countries like Russia and Iran," Burgum said.  Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)  raised concerns that burning more fossil fuels will destroy the climate.  "Are you going to protect our natural resources? Or are you going to drill, baby, drill?" Hirono asked.