Energy Secretary Rick Perry is reportedly among those being considered to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Three people familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg News the Trump administration is eyeing Perry to replace John Kelly, who became White House chief of staff earlier this week.

"Secretary Perry is focused on the important mission of the Department of Energy," Robert Haus, director of public affairs at the Energy Department, told Bloomberg.

"He’s honored to be mentioned, but he loves what’s he’s doing."

President Trump, however, tweeted in 2015 that the Texas governor, who challenged Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, had done an "absolutely horrible job of securing the border."

Rick Perry did an absolutely horrible job of securing the border. He should be ashamed of himself. Gov. Abbott has since been terrific. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2015

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An administration official also told E&E news that Perry is not under consideration for the DHS role.

Bloomberg noted that other candidates are also being considered for the Homeland Security secretary position.

The White House earlier this week downplayed rumors that Trump could move Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE, a recent target of Trump's criticism, to the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump announced last week that Kelly, the former Homeland Security secretary, would replace Reince Priebus as chief of staff in a White House shakeup.

Since Kelly assumed his new role, deputy DHS Secretary Elaine Duke has assumed temporary leadership of the department.

--This report was updated at 1:57 p.m.