President-elect Trump is expected to select former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as his nominee for secretary of energy, according to multiple reports Monday evening.
Donald Trump selects #RickPerry as Energy Secretary via two sources directly involved in the transition and selection process.
— CBS News Radio (@CBSNewsRadio) December 13, 2016
Trump’s transition team had been considering four people, including Perry, for the job. Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia were being interviewed, as well as Ray Washburne, former chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Perry has met with Trump twice, including over the weekend at an Army-Navy football game in Baltimore.
The choice would be a departure from the type of managers President Obama has picked to lead energy during his two terms, both world-renowned scientists.
Perry infamously said during a 2011 Republican presidential debate that he wanted to get rid of three federal agencies. He meant to include the Energy Department in that list but could not recall it immediately.
“And I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, Education, and the… what’s the third one there? Let’s see,” Perry said.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney suggested, “EPA?”
Perry responded, “EPA, there you go, no …” with laughter from the candidate and the audience.
A few minutes later, Perry chimed in, “By the way that was the Department of Energy I was reaching for a while ago.”
