Rick Perry, Ben Carson confirmed, sworn in to Trump's Cabinet

Ben Carson is sworn in as HUD secretary — (Image credit: AP/YouTube)

On Thursday night, Vice President Mike Pence swore in former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as secretary of the Energy Department, which he once almost vowed to eliminate, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson as Housing and Urban Development secretary. The Senate confirmed both Cabinet officers, former Trump rivals for the GOP nomination, on Thursday afternoon — Carson by a 58-41 vote and Perry, 62-37. The Senate has now confirmed 18 of Trump's 22 Cabinet-level nominees. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.