President Trump Nominates Dan Brouillette for Energy Secretary |

President Donald Trump says he is nominating a deputy to Energy Secretary Rick Perry to replace him in the top job at the Energy Department.

Trump tweeted Friday that Dan Brouillette's experience in the area is "unparalleled" and calls him a "total professional."

Trump is also praising Perry, who plans to leave the Energy Department at the end of the year.

Perry's departure comes as he is under scrutiny over the role he played in the president's dealings with Ukraine, the focus of an ongoing impeachment inquiry.

I want to thank Secretary of Energy Rick Perry for the outstanding job he has done. He will be leaving at the end of the year to pursue other interests. Rick was a great Governor of Texas and a great Secretary of Energy....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2019

....He is also my friend! At the same time, I am pleased to nominate Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette to be the new Secretary of Energy. Dan’s experience in the sector is unparalleled. A total professional, I have no doubt that Dan will do a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2019

It has been my great pleasure to work for @SecretaryPerry at @ENERGY over these past few years. He has been an incredible advocate for energy innovation, discovery science, #AI, environmental progress, and our #NationalLabs. I wish him the best in his future endeavors. pic.twitter.com/If6BcGvPqd
— Paul Dabbar (@ScienceUnderSec) October 18, 2019

ORIGINAL STORY:

Energy Secretary Rick Perry has notified the president that he intends to leave his job soon. That's according to an administration official who confirmed the news on condition of anonymity.

Perry was traveling with the president to Texas Thursday when he shared the news aboard Air Force One.

Perry is under scrutiny over the role he played in the president's dealings with Ukraine, which are currently the subject of an impeachment inquiry.

Perry had disputed reports that he was planning to leave the administration in an interview Wednesday with The Wall Street Journal. But he reportedly left the door open, saying he expected to be at the Energy Department at Thanksgiving, but giving a less definitive answer when asked whether he'd be there through the end of the year.