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Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the sudden resignation Thursday of John Magaw, Transportation Security Administration undersecretary, was "curious," because it came as Congress was reducing funding for the TSA by $550 million from the president's request.

"The TSA has experienced setbacks in trying to secure the nation's air transportation system," Murray said in a statement. "And the TSA's challenges are compounded by Office of Management and Budget efforts to cut its funding."

House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, said, "John Magaw did everything humanly possible to fulfill the mission Congress mandated from the TSA."

The Associated Press quoted an administration official with knowledge of the situation who said Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta had asked Magaw to leave.

Magaw submitted a letter of resignation to the White House, citing poor health as the reason for his decision. In April, Magaw underwent angioplasty to clear a clogged artery.

Magaw has faced the difficult task of coordinating the nation's airports to be better prepared for terrorist attacks and appeared before Congress numerous times to discuss the new agency's agenda. He will be replaced by James Loy, the former commandant of the Coast Guard and current TSA deputy undersecretary, Mineta said.

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