Energy Secretary Rick Perry is the latest administration official to announce his departure from the White House, and is currently finalizing the terms and timing of his departure, said people familiar with Perry’s plans.
His departure won’t come any time soon, added the people speaking on condition of anonymity, and he hasn’t definitely made his mind but has been considering leaving for some time now.
Shaylyn Hynes, an Energy Department spokeswoman, dismissed the claims that Perry would leave the administration, saying in a statement that he “is happy where he is serving President Trump and leading the Department of Energy.”
Bloomberg writes that the former Texas governor has had a good relationship with President Donald Trump, who personally asked him to take the helm at the Department of Homeland Security before Kirstjen Nielsen resigned, at the request of the President, earlier this month.
Two sources familiar with the secretary’s plans say that he has been preparing the agency’s deputy secretary, Dan Brouillette, for the transition, even though it is not clear whether the President would name Brouillette as secretary.
This is not the first time that talks of Perry’s departure have emerged. President Trump has allegedly considered Perry as a contender to lead the departments of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.
Having served as governor of Texas for almost 15 years, Perry is familiar with border issues and has been a champion of immigrant rights. During his tenure, Perry helped the large Latino population of Texas by advancing legislation that allowed undocumented children of immigrants to pay in-state tuition for college.
Perry has served as the secretary of the Department of Energy since being confirmed in 2017.
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