The Department of Energy on Wednesday night denied a report that Rick Perry is planning to leave his position as secretary of the agency.
“There is no truth that Perry is departing the Administration any time soon,” Department of Energy press secretary Shaylyn Hynes said in a tweet. “He is happy where he is serving President Trump and leading the Department of Energy.”
The statement from Hynes came shortly after Bloomberg News reported that Perry was planning his exit from the Trump administration. Bloomberg News, citing two people familiar with the plans, said that the former Texas governor was finalizing the terms and timing of his departure.
{mosads}The outlet noted that Perry’s departure was not imminent, and that he was preparing the agency’s deputy secretary, Dan Brouillette, for the transition.
Perry has served as the head of the DOE since being confirmed in March 2017.
He said earlier this month that he had no interest in replacing Kirstjen Nielsen as Homeland Security secretary following her resignation.
“I’m happy where I am and the president is happy where I am,” Perry told Bloomberg News.
His comments came after The Washington Post reported that Perry was among a list of possible candidates to be nominated to replace Nielsen.