Energy Secretary Abraham, Secretary of State Powell Resign

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nergy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Secretary of State Colin Powell said they would resign from President Bush’s Cabinet, but stay on until a successors are in place, news services reported.

Also Monday, the administration said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Education Secretary Rod Paige planned to leave.

Abraham told President Bush last week of his decision, Reuters said. A White House announcement was expected later in the day.

He was a former senator from Michigan and joined the administration after he lost a bid for re-election, becoming the nation's 10th energy secretary. If he stays at the post until the end of this term, he would become the longest-serving secretary at the department, the Associated Press reported.

Kyle McSlarrow, deputy energy secretary, and Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute trade group, are possible replacements, Reuters said.

Retiring Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana was also rumored to be a replacement, MSNBC reported. He is one of the few Senate Democrats to support Bush's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

As crude oil and motor fuel prices rose to record levels this year, Abraham has defended the Bush administration's policy of filling the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

He said the reserve should be used only in the event of supply disruptions and not to manipulate prices.

Meanwhile, Powell too will remain on the job until a new secretary of state is in place. The position is involved in shaping foreign policy.