Some political observers believe Ridge will leave the administration of President George W. Bush in the near future and Newsweek said his "most frequently" mentioned replacement is Fran Townsend, a Homeland Security coordinator at the White House.

"Like (Secretary of State nominee) Condoleezza Rice and (Attorney General nominee) Alberto Gonzales, she's a skillful operator who has convinced Bush of her personal loyalty," the news magazine says in its edition to hit newsstands this week.

"The rumor mill says private-sector billets for Ridge could include top jobs with a big defense contractor or a politically connected Philadelphia law firm that works on homeland security," it said.

Other potential top contenders for Ridge's post include former New York city police commissioner Bernard Kerik and the Department of Homeland Security's border chief Asa Hutchinson.

The report added that the White House is not expected to promote State Department arms-control expert John Bolton to the State Department's number two position as deputy secretary of state.

Since Bush won re-election on November 2, several high profile cabinet members have announced their resignations including Secretary of State Colin Powell, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and Energy Secretary Spencer Abrahams among others.

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