WASHINGTON, April 7 (UPI) -- Finding a deputy U.S. director of national intelligence is turning out to be a tough job as the office remains vacant after nearly a year.
The Washington Post said Saturday that Director Mike McConnell has been unable to find someone who both wants the job and passes muster in the White House.
The position has been vacant since last May when Gen. Michael Hayden was promoted to head the CIA. The interim director, Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, had to step down in January due to limits on how long someone can be in office without Senate approval.
Officials told the Post that the search was ongoing; however others figured the short time left in President Bush's term has made candidates less enthusiastic about taking a job they could lose after the 2008 election.
Meanwhile, McConnell has been working long hours keeping the White House up to speed on intelligence matters while running the multi-agency U.S. intelligence apparatus.
