由安德魯・ Ward和Eoin Callan在華盛頓

喬治・ W.總統。 在星期四布什失去了他的管理的另一名資深成員，當麥克Johanns辭職當農業部長時。

他的離開在新的農場帳單的段落剝奪布什政府它的首要提倡者為換distorting農業補貼改革在重要片刻。

johanns先生預計回來到他的當地人內布拉斯加爭奪Chuck拿著的參議院席位Hagel，明年是退休的伊拉克戰爭的共和黨評論家。

農業部長開始了寬廣的努力說服國會山莊減少農廠補貼和移動朝付款方法一致與世界貿易規則。

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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