Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Bush Aides Support EPA Cabinet Status

The White House senior staff has shifted its position and is now advising at least tacit support of bipartisan legislation to elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to Cabinet status, an Administration source said. President Bush has been reluctant to endorse such a move in the past on grounds that making the Cabinet larger makes it harder to manage the government. However, supporting the idea could bring considerable political benefit to Bush among environmentalists, who have long pushed the idea. Legislation to make the EPA the 15th Cabinet department is to be reintroduced in both houses of Congress within the next few days. Bills also were introduced last year, but did not make it to the floor of either the House or Senate.