Powell Quits Gulf Recovery Job

The Bush administration's federal coordinator of long-term hurricane recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast resigned unexpectedly yesterday, acknowledging frustration at the slow pace of rebuilding but expressing confidence that the foundation for progress is in place.

"It was just a good time" to go, said Donald E. Powell, 66, a major Texas backer of President Bush who took the Katrina post in November 2005, after serving as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Powell's announcement came nine months before the executive order establishing his position expires -- and 30 months after Hurricane Katrina's landfall on Aug. 29, 2005.