Washington
The Senate voted, 62-37, Thursday afternoon to confirm Perry as energy secretary, brushing aside his onetime vow to abolish the department.
The genial Republican drew less fire from Democrats during his confirmation process than other Trump nominees, but Perry faces many of the same tough issues over regulations, the department’s activities to slow climate change, and potentially deep cuts in manpower and spending.
Perry’s foes criticized his tepid acknowledgment of climate change, his strong ties to his state’s oil and gas industry, and his lack of experience with the department’s maintenance of the nation’s nuclear stockpile.