Rick Perry Confirmed as Energy Secretary

Earlier, the Senate gave the nod to Ben Carson at HUD
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 2, 2017 2:30 PM CST
Rick Perry Confirmed as Energy Secretary
Energy Secretary Rick Perry, left, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson applaud on Capitol Hill in Washingto before President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress.   (Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Another former rival joins the Cabinet: The Senate has confirmed former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve as energy secretary under President Trump. The vote was 62-37 on Thursday, per AP. The move comes hours after Ben Carson was confirmed at HUD. Perry—who once pledged to eliminate the department—has promised to be an advocate for the agency and to protect the nation's nuclear stockpile. He also has said he'd rely on federal scientists, including those who work on climate change. Democrats say they accept Perry's disavowal of his 2011 pledge to abolish the Energy Department, but they're worried he may not stand up to GOP proposals to slash the department's budget. (More Rick Perry stories.)

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