Carson, Perry sworn into Trump cabinet posts
WASHINGTON — Ben Carson has been sworn in as the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The retired neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier Thursday.
Vice-President Mike Pence said he is confident that Carson will “open doors of opportunity” to some of the most vulnerable in the country.
Carson has never before held public office and has no experience in housing or development issues. He will be the only African-American in President Donald Trump’s cabinet, and will oversee a department with 8,000 employees and a $50-billion US budget.
Meanwhile, former Texas governor Rick Perry was sworn in by Pence as Trump’s energy secretary.
Perry — who once pledged to eliminate the Energy Department — has repeatedly promised to be an advocate for the agency and to protect his nation’s nuclear stockpile. Perry also has said he’d rely on federal scientists.
Perry has said he’ll work to develop American energy in all forms — from oil, gas and nuclear power to renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
The Senate also cleared Trump’s nominee to run Medicare and Medicaid for a final floor vote.
The Finance Committee approved Indiana health care consultant Seema Verma on a party line vote, 13-12.
Verma would head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency that oversees health insurance programs covering more than 130 million Americans. Known as CMS, it’s also responsible for administering the Obama-era health care law that Trump has vowed to repeal and replace.