Joe M. Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has announced his decision to leave government service on March 1. Until then, Allbaugh will continue to lead FEMA's transition into the Department of Homeland Security. According to a FEMA news release, he will leave the Bush administration to pursue interests in the private sector.

“I have been a longtime advocate for the Department of Homeland Security, and now that it is a reality and the president has a great team in place, I feel I can move on to my next challenge,” Allbaugh said. “For the last two years, my family has been extraordinarily patient and supportive as I responded to numerous disasters across the country. Now I am going to take the opportunity to spend some time with my wife and children.”

It has been reported that he is part of a growing group of administration officials who are leaving their jobs to eventually help Bush's 2004 re-election effort.

Since joining FEMA in February 2001, Allbaugh has overseen the federal response to 89 major disasters, beginning with an earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter scale that rocked Nisqually, Wash., in late February 2001, just two weeks after his swearing in.

Most visibly, Allbaugh was Bush's personal representative following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Allbaugh immediately made federal resources available to New York City and Arlington County, offering them incident commanders, urban search-and-rescue teams, and the resources of 26 federal agencies under the Federal Response Plan. In addition, Allbaugh kept the American public informed throughout the immediate response.

Allbaugh also has overseen efforts to help New York City recover. He ensured FEMA's existing assistance programs could be innovatively applied to the unique circumstances of the city's disaster, which was characterized by contained physical damage but widespread economic loss and consequences. Allbaugh approved the largest crisis counseling grant in FEMA's history, totaling $154 million.

He also has approved approximately $330 million for individual disaster victims and $4.9 billion for the city and state of New York to reimburse the costs of emergency services, transportation projects and debris removal, and to help rebuild the public infrastructure. To date, Allbaugh has approved $5.5 billion in post-attack aid.