White House press secretary Scott McClellan announced his resignation today as part of a shake-up of President George W. Bush's senior aides.
Political adviser Karl Rove has also given up his policy role as part of the reshuffle of White House staff.
US President George W. Bush listens as Scott McClellan announces his resignation as White House press secretary
New White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, who started work at the weekend, has begun a staff shake-up to try to help Mr Bush rebound from sagging poll numbers and bolster public confidence in his leadership.
"I have given it my all, sir," Mr McClellan told Mr Bush outside the White House before a group of reporters. He said he would stay on over the next two or three weeks to allow time for a transition to his successor, who has not yet been named.
Mr McClellan (38), a Texan who has been in the job for nearly three years, has been one of the most visible faces of the Bush administration and replacing him will give the president the chance to put a fresh face on his White House.
"I don't know whether or not the press corps realizes it, but his is a challenging assignment dealing with you all on a regular basis. And I thought he handled his assignment with class and integrity," Mr Bush said. "It's going to be hard to replace Scott, but nevertheless he's made the decision, and I accept it."
Administration officials said Mr Rove would give up his policy development duties in order to focus more on political affairs, as Republicans try to hang on to control of both houses of Congress in the November mid-term elections.
Mr Rove, another Texas insider, has been keeping a low profile while still remaining under investigation in a special prosecutor's probe into the leak of a CIA officer's identity in 2003. He has been deputy White House chief of staff for policy development and Mr Bush's top political adviser. His policy role will be taken over by Joel Kaplan, currently the deputy White House budget director.