Dept. of Energy Secretary Rick Perry to resign at end of year

Secretary Perry informed President Trump yesterday that he will resign from his position, effective later this year. Perry released a message to DOE employees stating that he had “the coolest job in the world” as Secretary of the department.

President Trump told reporters on Thursday that the administration already has a replacement for Perry’s position. According to Politico, the current DOE Deputy Secretary, Dan Brouillette, is likely to step into the lead Secretary role.

Perry has been subpoenaed in the ongoing presidential impeachment inquiry for information on his role in the Trump administration’s recent dealings with Ukraine, including whether the United States withheld military aid to the European country while the President pressured Ukraine officials to investigate allegations of wrongdoings by former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Perry had been a frequent flyer to Ukraine to pitch U.S. energy exports, and the President asked him to work with Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on political issues involving Ukraine.

Secretary Perry was one of the few remaining original cabinet secretaries of the Trump administration. Under his leadership, the DOE attempted to bail out the struggling coal and nuclear power industries while limiting renewable energy adoption in favor of a “reliable and resilient electrical grid.” The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ultimately refused to adopt the plan.