Bush's cabinet comes together nicely

WASHINGTON - Shortly after George W. Bush was sworn in as President of the United States, the Senate yesterday confirmed the top tier of his cabinet - Secretaries of State, Defence and Treasury, along with four other cabinet posts.

Moving quickly to get the Republican Administration up and running, the Senate approved retired General Colin Powell to head the State Department, former Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld for a second turn as Defence Secretary and retired industrialist Paul O'Neill for the Treasury post.

Others to be confirmed were Don Evans as Commerce Secretary, Spencer Abraham as Energy Secretary, Ann Veneman as Agriculture Secretary and Roderick Paige as Education Secretary.

All these nominees breezed through their confirmation hearings.

Bush's choice for director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, pharmaceutical company executive Mitchell Daniels, was also approved.

Republican Leader Trent Lott has said he expects most of Bush's cabinet to be confirmed by the middle of this week.

But at least four nominations could take longer, including Bush's most controversial - former senator John Ashcroft, a Missouri Republican, as Attorney-General.

After a contentious four-day confirmation hearing, Ashcroft's nomination might still face a debate on the Senate floor, led by Democrats upset with Bush's choice of the strong social conservative.

Other nominees Norman Mineta (Transportation Secretary), Elaine Chao (Labour Secretary) and Robert Zoellick (US Trade Representative) may also not be confirmed until next week.

- REUTERS

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