In essence, Ridge lost, because he wanted to make sure that border issues were not subject to the control of any other cabinet agency.

"You have a vice presidential staff that was fully integrated into all the cabinet agencies."

These activities are critical to each cabinet agency's overall mission and should have direct accountability to the agency head.

Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to combine oversight of energy and environment into one Cabinet agency.

But officials from a wide spectrum of cabinet agencies argued that the change would be too disruptive.

His primary position was to identify and recommend candidates for senior political positions in cabinet agencies.

Cabinet agencies are divided over the wisdom of taking such action against the third world's biggest debtor country.

There was never a discussion that said certain cabinet agencies are off-limits to members of other parties.

And six new Cabinet agencies have been created.

For now, Congress is focusing its attention on homeland security in a rush to have a new Cabinet agency to bring home to the voters.