A New York Times report on the eve of Rick Perry’s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Energy Wednesday alleged that the former Texas governor had only recently discovered that the job largely involves nuclear issues. But Perry acknowledged in 2014 that the Department of Energy is responsible for overseeing the country’s nuclear arsenal.
“You served in the Air Force and probably know a big part of the Department of Energy is National Security and nuclear, nuclear arsenal,” said Greg Dalton, founder of the Climate One forum, during a discussion on energy independence.
“Yep,” Perry said.
Perry also reiterated his calls for cuts to government agencies, including the Department of Energy.
“I’m not sure why we need a Department of Energy that is as broad, and as big, and as cumbersome as the one that we have,” he said. “There are, obviously, great and good innovations that come out of the Department of Energy. But I will suggest to you that we cannot afford the size and the scope of the government that we’re paying for today.”
