Trump confirms Rick Perry to step down as Energy secretary

Energy Secretary Rick PerryRick PerryThe Hill's Morning Report - Trump takes unexpected step to stem coronavirus Top National Security Council aide moved to Energy Department role Overnight Energy: Green groups to sue over Trump rollback of Obama water rules | GOP climate plan faces pushback from right | Bezos launches B climate initiative MORE, whose dealings with Ukraine have become a focus of the House impeachment inquiry into President TrumpDonald John TrumpWith VP pick, Biden can't play small ball in a long ball world Coronavirus hits defense contractor jobs Wake up America, your country doesn't value your life MORE, will step down from his Cabinet post at the end of the year, Trump said Thursday.

The president told reporters at the start of a ribbon-cutting event at a Louis Vuitton factory in Alvorado, Texas, that he already has a replacement for Perry, but he did not say who it would be. Trump said he would make the announcement shortly.

“Rick and I have been talking for six months. In fact, I thought he might go a bit sooner. But he’s got some very big plans. He’s going to be very successful. We have his successor, we’ll announce it pretty soon," Trump said.

Trump spoke fondly of Perry during the event, introducing the former Texas governor as a "very good friend of mine," adding "I'm going to miss you so much."

“We’ll be announcing the replacement, and he — I think it’s a he in this particular case —  I think he’ll do a fantastic job," Trump added. "We worked on that together. Right, Rick?"

Perry's resignation had been expected for weeks, particularly after news of his involvement in Trump's efforts to encourage Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenWith VP pick, Biden can't play small ball in a long ball world Poll: Trump, Biden in dead heat in 2020 matchup Coronavirus pushes GOP's Biden-Burisma probe to back burner MORE's son Hunter, who once sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.

Perry was one of the “three amigos” dealing with Ukraine, alongside former special envoy Kurt VolkerKurt VolkerGOP senators request details on Hunter Biden's travel for probe Yovanovitch retires from State Department: reports Live coverage: Senators enter second day of questions in impeachment trial MORE and Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, according to Rep. Gerry ConnollyGerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyOPM chief abruptly resigns The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by the APTA - Biden looks for Super Tuesday surge; coronavirus fears heighten 'Liberated' Pelosi bashes Trump — and woos Democratic base MORE (D-Va.), who cited the recent testimony of a top State Department official. Trump is said to have named Perry as the impetus for the July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is at the center of the impeachment probe.

"Not a lot of people know this but, I didn't even want to make the call. The only reason I made the call was because Rick asked me to,” Trump said earlier this month, according to Axios.

The timing of Perry’s departure is sure to raise eyebrows, particularly as it comes amid growing scrutiny of Trump officials who were involved with Ukraine.

Democrats are pressing forward with witness testimonies as part of their impeachment probe. Multiple witnesses, including top State Department officials who ignored White House directives not to testify, have raised concerns about what they described as a shadow foreign policy conducted outside the normal diplomatic channels.

Perry recently told Fox News he was not sure if he would comply with a congressional subpoena for records related to the Ukraine controversy. The deadline for submitting those documents is Friday.

"The House has sent a subpoena over for the records that we have, and our general counsel and the White House counsel are going through the process right now," Perry said earlier this month. "I’m going to follow the lead of my counsel on that.”

Those remarks came after the White House wrote a letter to House leaders saying the executive branch would refuse to comply with the inquiry, but Perry’s resignation could open the door to his eventual participation in the probe.

Reports that Perry would soon be departing the administration have persisted throughout his tenure.

“No. I’m here, I’m serving," Perry said earlier this month at a news conference. “They’ve been writing the story for at least nine months now. One of these days they will probably get it right, but it’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, it’s not next month."

Perry said it was energy issues that pushed him to broker a call between Trump and the Ukrainian president. In his role as Energy secretary, Perry has engaged in conversations with Naftogaz, Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company.

Perry, who ran for president in 2012 and 2016, is one of Trump’s longest-serving Cabinet secretaries, having served 31 months in the administration.

The former Texas governor has kept a relatively low profile throughout his time in the administration, in contrast to the actions of his fellow energy and environment agency heads, two of whom resigned amid ethics concerns.

Perry took heat early on in his post when in September 2017 he submitted an unprecedented proposal to prop up the struggling coal and nuclear industry. Federal regulators later killed the plan.

He was also criticized for a rule that rolled back Obama-era standards for lightbulbs, eliminating energy efficiency standards for nearly half the bulbs on the market.

Perry was considered for other administration posts during Trump’s presidency. He was among the potential nominees to replace Kirstjen NielsenKirstjen Michele NielsenHillicon Valley: Twitter falling short on pledge to verify primary candidates | Barr vows to make surveillance reforms after watchdog report | DHS cyber chief focused on 2020 Sen. Kennedy slams acting DHS secretary for lack of coronavirus answers The 'accidental director' on the front line of the fight for election security MORE as the head of the Department of Homeland Security in early April. He denied interest in taking the position.

“I once believed Secretary Perry was one of the more upstanding members of the cabinet. Now we are learning that he was directly involved in the criminal wrongdoing of this Administration with respect to Ukraine," said Rep. Paul TonkoPaul David TonkoAs we face coronavirus battle, we must ensure critical supplies of respirators for health care workers Overnight Energy: Murkowski, Manchin unveil major energy bill | Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency's budget | GOP lawmaker accuses Trump officials of 'playing politics' over Yucca Mountain Lawmakers grill EPA chief over push to slash agency's budget MORE (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where Perry testified several times.

"Rick is a good man and a good friend who has devoted his life to serving his country, especially the great state of Texas. He went from being Texas' longest-serving governor to heading the Department of Energy, where he was a leading advocate for U.S. energy," Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump faces mounting pressure to unleash Defense Production Act Overnight Energy: House stimulus aims to stem airline pollution | Environmental measures become sticking point in Senate talks | Progressives propose T 'green stimulus' GOP blames environmental efforts, but Democrats see public health problems with stimulus MORE (R-Texas) said in a statement. "I wish him the best as he returns to private life after a long, successful, and productive career."

Updated: 7:35 p.m.