President Bush named two top economic advisers Tuesday and said there will be more changes on his staff, but ruled out firing embattled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
The president nominated U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman to be his budget director and Deputy Trade Representative Susan Schwab to replace Portman. If confirmed by the Senate, Portman would replace Josh Bolten, who this week became White House chief of staff.
Bush made clear that Bolten will be making more changes to the White House staff, which has stumbled in the president’s second term.
“He will bring different recommendations to me as to who should be here and who should not be here,” Bush said of Bolten. “With a new man will come some changes.
“And Josh has got all the rights to make those recommendations to me. I’ve given him enormous responsibility and authority.”
But Bush made clear he does not want to get rid of Rumsfeld, who has been criticized by several retired generals in recent weeks.
“I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation,” Bush said. “But I’m the decider, and I decide what is best.
“And what’s best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense,” he said. “I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld.”
Bush also expressed strong confidence in Portman’s ability to cut “the budget deficit in half by 2009” as head of the Office of Management and Budget.
“The job of OMB director is really an important post, and Rob Portman is the right man to take it on,” he said. Portman, who joined Bush in the Rose Garden for the announcement, pledged to continue fighting for low taxes and restraints on federal spending.
“It’s a big job,” he said.
