Homeland security chief Ridge resigns
Tom Ridge sends a letter to President Bush announcing his decision to leave the department.
Ridge, the first head of the newly created department, sent a letter to Bush on Tuesday and was due to announce his decision to leave in February at an 11:45 p.m. PST news conference.
"After more than 22 consecutive years of public service, it is time to give personal and family matters a higher priority," Ridge said in the letter. "With your concurrence, it is my desire to continue to serve as Secretary until February 1, 2005 or until the Senate confirms my successor."
The department, which merged all or parts of 22 federal agencies, was created in January 2003 in the biggest government revamping in 50 years. The new agency was charged with preventing future attacks on the United States and minimizing damage from any that do occur.
"There will always be more to do, but today, America is significantly stronger and safer than ever before," Ridge wrote.
Ridge's move follows the resignation in October of Amit Yoran, the director of the National Cyber Security Division, who joined the agency in September of last year.
Critics suggested that Yoran had been hampered in his task of carrying out Bush's plan for cybersecurity by a lack of direct access to Ridge. Before Yoran, the post of top cybersecurity official was held by Howard Schmidt, who left in April 2003, and before that by Richard Clarke, who stepped down in February 2003.
Ridge, 59, resigned as governor of Pennsylvania in October 2001 at Bush's request to become the president's homeland security adviser. He was later named the first homeland security secretary.
Bush's current homeland security adviser, Frances Townsend, is one of the leading candidates to succeed Ridge. Another possible successor is Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson, analysts said.
CNET News.com staff contributed to this report.
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