Trump Loses Another Cabinet Member

Energy Secretary Rick Perry, 69, reportedly plans to leave the Trump administration. Currently, the former Texas governor is finalizing the terms of his resignation, according to insiders close to the process.

Bloomberg reports:
 

While Perry’s exit isn’t imminent and one person familiar with the matter said the former Texas governor still hasn’t fully made up his mind, three people said he has been seriously considering his departure for weeks. All of the people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

An Energy Department spokeswoman, Shaylyn Hynes, rejected the idea that Perry would be leaving the administration any time soon. “He is happy where he is serving President Trump and leading the Department of Energy,” she said in a statement.

The White House press office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Perry, an Air Force veteran who was previously Texas’s longest-serving governor, has enjoyed a good rapport with President Donald Trump. Trump personally asked Perry if he’d take over as Homeland Security secretary before the president asked Kirstjen Nielsen to resign earlier this month, two of the people said. Perry declined, they said.

Perry is molding his top deputy, Dan Brouillette, to take the reins after his departure. However, it’s unclear if Trump would name Brouillette as Perry’s replacement.

Perry’s motivation for leaving is to build his net worth before retiring after a career in public service.