Carson, Perry win Senate approval at HUD, Energy
WASHINGTON — Two of President Donald Trump’s former rivals for the GOP White House nomination won Senate confirmation Thursday to join his administration.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was confirmed 58-41 as secretary of the Department of House and Urban Development. A few hours later, the Senate backed former Texas Gov. Rick Perry 62-37 to run the Energy Department. Both were later sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence.
Carson has never held public office and has no housing policy experience. Republicans have praised the life story of a man who grew up in inner-city Detroit with a single mother.
Perry, who once pledged to eliminate the department he now runs, has repeatedly promised be an advocate for the agency and to protect the nation’s nuclear stockpile.
Perry, 66, also pledged to rely on federal scientists, including those who work on climate change.
Perry, who served 14 years at Texas governor, has said he will seek to develop energy in all forms, from oil, gas and nuclear power to renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
Democrats say they accept Perry’s disavowal of his 2011 pledge to abolish the department, but they worry he may not stand up to GOP proposals to slash the department’s budget.
Carson, 65, will lead an agency with some 8,300 employees and a budget of about $47 billion.
The department provides billions of dollars in housing aid to low-income people through vouchers and public housing. It also enforces fair housing laws and offers mortgage insurance to poorer Americans through the Federal Housing Administration.