Bush to replace career USDA executive with lobbyist

The Bush administration has decided to replace Pearlie Reed, chief of the Agriculture Department's Natural Resources Conservation Service, with National Corn Growers Association Washington lobbyist Bruce Knight, sources inside and outside USDA told CongressDaily Tuesday.

The sources also said administration officials planned to inform high-ranking NRCS officials of the appointment Tuesday and that it will not take effect until May 4.

Reed, a career civil servant, was appointed by Clinton administration Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and is the first African-American to hold the post, which administers conservation programs affecting privately owned farm land.

Reed was traveling and could not be reached for comment.

Knight said, "I can talk to you about that tomorrow."