由安德鲁· Ward和Eoin Callan在华盛顿

乔治· W.总统。 在星期四布什失去了他的管理的另一名资深成员，当麦克Johanns辞职当农业部长时。

他的离开在新的农场帐单的段落剥夺布什政府它的首要提倡者为换distorting农业补贴改革在重要片刻。

johanns先生预计回来到他的当地人内布拉斯加争夺Chuck拿着的参议院席位Hagel，明年是退休的伊拉克战争的共和党评论家。

农业部长开始了宽广的努力说服国会山庄减少农厂补贴和移动朝付款方法一致与世界贸易规则。

The US is facing significant legal challenges at the World Trade Organisation to its farms programmes after losing a landmark case brought by Brazil over cotton subsidies. But so far the administration’s appeals for reform have been largely rejected.

The farms bill passed this summer by the House of Representatives rejected many of Mr Johanns’s reform proposals and largely exten­ded existing farm supports.

There have been some suggestions that the Senate was likely to show more flexibility when it passed its version of the farms bill, due later this month.

But Mr Johanns’s departure will shake confidence that a big change of direction by the US is imminent.

Chuck Connor, the deputy agriculture secretary, was appointed to replace Mr Johanns on an acting basis.

Mr Johanns is the latest senior official to leave the Bush administration since its domestic policymaking power was weakened by the Democratic takeover of Congress in January. But Mr Bush welcomed his expected decision to run for the Nebraska Senate seat, which the Republicans are desperate to retain in next year’s election.

“If it’s Mike’s decision and Nebraska’s choice, he would make an outstanding member of the United States Senate.  There is no doubt in my mind,” said Mr Bush.

Mr Hagel’s is one of several vulnerable Republican Senate seats that Democrats are targeting next year as they seek to extend their majorities in the House and Senate. Incumbent Republicans face difficult challenges in at least four states, while retirements in Virginia and Colorado will provide Democrats with additional opportunities to expand their one-seat majority in the Senate next November.

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