Trump’s Potential Cabinet: Rick Perry Might Head Energy Department That He Wanted To Eliminate

During the 2011 Republican presidential debate, then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry promised he would abolish three federal agencies if he became president: commerce, education and a third that he could not remember.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney chimed in asking if Perry was looking to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency but that wasn’t it either. Perry gave up trying to remember the third federal agency but later in the debate said it was the Energy Department, which protects and maintains the country’s nuclear stockpile.

Fast-forward to the present — in an ironic twist, President-elect Donald Trump is thinking of appointing Perry as head of the same department. Trump is considering naming Perry as the energy secretary, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump is yet to officially announce the full list of names that will make up his cabinet but Vox predicted it is likely to be dominated by white males. Reports said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is a top contender for the secretary of state post while billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is rumored to be the front-runner for the commerce secretary job.

Trump has so far named GOP Chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff and Breitbart News Executive Chairman Stephen Bannon as chief strategist. Vice President-elect Mike Pence is leading Trump’s transition team.