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Watch Rick Perry Explain Why He Should Lead the Agency He Wanted to Cut

Trump's pick to lead the Department of Energy testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Thursday at 10 AM EST.

On Thursday, former Texas governor Rick Perry will sit before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and tout his vision for the very same department he famously forgot the name of while listing government agencies he'd vow to get rid of as president.

Despite that hiccup during his 2012 presidential campaign, Perry is seen as a favorite of conservatives for the job having overseen Texas's vital energy economy as the state's longest serving governor and capable of bringing reform to the department.

However, Perry, who lacks the scientific background crucial to the role, will also be grilled on how he plans to manage the country's stockpile of nuclear weapons—a part of the job he apparently did not understand initially—under a president who has called for the US to "expand its nuclear capability." The department of energy also played a crucial part in Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, something that Trump often criticized on the campaign trail.

Additionally the former governor will likely be asked about his ties to the coal and gas industry and his views on clean energy, climate change skepticism, and connection with various pipeline companies. Before Trump's nomination, Perry served as a director for the company behind the Dakota Access pipeline, which Obama blocked last month.

Watch the video of his confirmation hearing below.