Russack steps down from National Intelligence post

John Russack, program manager for the Information-Sharing Environment in the office of the Director of National Intelligence, is leaving the post, according to a statement released today by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

"It is a troubling setback that John Russack, the Bush administration's top official in charge of implementing a governmentwide initiative to enhance information-sharing between local, state and federal officials, is stepping down," Durbin said in a statement.

"It appears that our best efforts to implement 21st century technology for information-sharing are still far behind. Today's announcement tells us that plans for moving forward may be delayed or jeopardized," Durbin said.

Russack has been in the post since April, reporting to Director John Negroponte. The new intelligence agency and the information-sharing environment were created in the intelligence reform bill of 2004.

Russack, who was not immediately available for comment, also chaired the Information Sharing Council created by presidential Executive Order 13388.