Embattled Personnel Director Withdraws Name for 2nd Term

WASHINGTON — Donald J. Devine, under fire for secretly trying to retain control of the Office of Personnel Management when his first term ended, abruptly withdrew himself today as a nominee for a second term.

On Wednesday, Devine had said he would provide testimony today that would clear him.

“I can count the votes, and I don’t believe I can be confirmed by this committee,” Devine told the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee this morning. “Therefore, I withdraw my request for reconfirmation.”

Devine, 48, who had also been under fire for political activities on behalf of Republican congressional candidates, said he believes that he did a fine job but that political differences with members of Congress would prevent his reconfirmation. Devine’s withdrawal came at the end of a 30-minute statement in which he defended his actions as head of the OPM since 1981.

“Our actions were taken only for the purpose of protecting the agency and ensuring efficient management over a short period of time,” Devine said as his family sat behind him in the front row of the hearing room.

Devine told the panel “it was clearly not my intention to hide anything” last March when he signed an official document while still OPM director giving him power to run the agency when he took a subordinate post the next day.

His successor, Loretta Cornelius, testified Wednesday that she did not learn Devine was signing executive orders under the secret document for about a month.