FBI's Freeh to retire in June

FBI Director Louis Freeh Tuesday announced he is retiring after 27 years of federal service, and will step down as director in June. Freeh, who has headed the FBI for more than seven years, announced his departure at the annual conference of FBI Special Agents in Charge and senior managers. Freeh said, "As for the future, I look forward to spending the summer with my family and engaging in new challenges." House Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner today applauded Freeh's tenure, praising him for "steadfastly prevent[ing] the politicization of the bureau." In other federal personnel news:

• President Bush on Monday officially nominated Kay Coles James to be director of the Office of Personnel Management.
• On Tuesday, Bush said he will nominate career senior Foreign Service officer Alexander R. Vershbow as U.S. ambassador to Russia.
• Last week, Bush announced James W. Ziglar as his candidate to head the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Ziglar is the Senate's sergeant at arms.
• Dale N. Bosworth, formerly head of the Forest Service's Northern Region, which includes northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota, has taken the reins of the Forest Service after the departure of previous chief Mike Dombeck. The top forest job does not require Senate confirmation.