*EPF306 11/10/2004
Ashcroft, Evans Leave Bush Cabinet
(Post-election reshaping of Cabinet begins) (450)

By Alexandra Abboud
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The resignations of two important members of President Bush's Cabinet, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Don Evans, announced by the White House November 9, are the first of several major changes likely to take place over the coming weeks as the president prepares for his second term.

Attorney General Ashcroft, in a letter of resignation dated November 2, told President Bush that the "objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved" while "the rule of law has been strengthened and upheld in the courts." He told Bush that the Department of Justice "would be well served by new leadership and fresh inspiration."

Ashcroft held one of the highest profile positions in the Bush Cabinet. The Department of Justice was tasked with enforcing the USA Patriot Act, an anti-terrorism law approved in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

Bush praised Ashcroft's achievements in combating terrorism, preventing crime, protecting victims' rights and curbing trafficking in persons. "John Ashcroft has worked tirelessly to help make our country safer," Bush said in a November 9 statement. "In doing so, he has made sure that the rights of Americans are respected and protected."

Ashcroft stated he will continue as attorney general until his successor takes office.

Commerce Secretary Evans, Bush's campaign chairman during the 2000 presidential election and a key Bush adviser, said that the president's first term "brought great progress in strengthening America's national security and economic security, and advancing the global march to peace, prosperity, and freedom." In his resignation letter, Evans said that "while the promise of your second term shines bright, I have concluded with deep regret that it is time for me to return home."

In a November 9 statement, Bush said that Evans shared the president's "belief that the promise of America means our best days lie ahead. Together, we have worked to make that a reality."

As inauguration day approaches, there are likely to be more changes throughout the U.S. government. Resignations already announced include Cofer Black, the State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism for the last two years, and Robert Blackwill, a top Bush adviser on Iraq and the coordinator for strategic planning for National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.

Cabinet members -- heads of the 15 departments within the executive branch of U.S. government -- are appointed by the president and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate. Cabinet members are appointed for the duration of an administration, but may resign, or be dismissed by the president, at any time.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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