By Brian Freeman

March 21, 2018 - Energy Secretary Rick Perry reiterated that he is "not going anywhere," dismissing rumors that he could soon be switching jobs to head the  Department of Veterans Affairs, the Dallas News reported on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, Perry said that "I'll be here," insisting that he would remain in his current position.

Rick Perry

Reports have circulated recently that President Donald Trump was considering replacing Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, who is embroiled in controversy at the VA over ethical missteps, with Perry.

Adding credence to those rumors is the fact that Perry is also an Air Force veteran who has made veterans issue a priority.

Perry last week told the Washington Examiner that "the president knows I like where I am. He knows that we have done a really good job of keeping this agency focused, particularly in those areas he is interested in: selling American, running an agency effectively."

Perry said reports that a meeting he held last week with the president included discussions on his leaving the Energy Department to take over the Department of Veterans Affairs were not true.

Instead, Perry said many other topics on a wide range of issues were talked about, but that the idea of him leaving his position was not one of them. 

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