CIA Director Porter Goss (C) and U.S. President George W. Bush shake hands in the Oval Office of the White House to announce that Goss is resigning as director of the CIA on May 5, 2006 in Washington. Bush said that he appreciated Goss' "candid advice" during his two years as director of the CIA. At left is National Intelligence Director John Negroponte. (UPI Photo/Chip Somodevilla/POOL)
President George W. Bush said in a White House news conference that he accepted the resignation. No replacement has been named.
Goss, who was an undercover CIA agent, became the agency's director in September 2004. The appointment followed a 16-year career in the US House of Representatives, where he chaired the Intelligence Committee for several years.
Goss took over the agency from George Tenet in one of its most difficult times. The CIA had been harshly criticized for intelligence failures leading up to the invasion of Iraq and its inability to uncover the plot of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Tenet, who had been appointed by President Bill Clinton, had called the evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction a 'slam dunk.'
During the news conference, Goss siad it had been a 'very distinct honour and privilege to serve' both Bush and 'the people of the country and the employees of the Central Intelligence Agency.'
He added that the US spy agency 'is on a very even keel; it's sailing well.'
Shortly after taking office, Goss was criticized over placing congressional aides in key positions and several high-ranking CIA career officials left their jobs.
When Bush created the position of director of national intelligence following the recent intelligence failures, Goss was widely believed to have sought the position. But he publicly praised John Negroponte, the eventual nominee, as a good candidate for the job.
During Friday's news conference, Bush touted his close personal relationship to Goss and thanked him for his service, integrity and 'candid advice.'
'He honours the proud history of the CIA, an organization that is known for its secrecy and accountability,' Bush said.
The president also praised Goss' five-year plan to increase the number of CIA operatives and analysts. This, Bush said, 'is going to help make this country a safer place and help us win the war on terror.'
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Porter Goss, former director of the CIA with President George W. Bush.According to United States President George W. Bush, CIA director Porter Goss has resigned.

"He has led ably. He helped make this country a safer place. He has a five-year plan to increase the analysts and operatives. He honours the proud history of the CIA, an organization that is known for its secrecy and accountability. We've got to win the war on terror," said Bush in a press conference on Friday.

"I would like to report to you that the agency (CIA) is back on a very even keel and sailing well," said Goss.

The reasons for Goss's resignation are not yet known and as of the moment, the President has announced no replacement.

Goss was appointed as the CIA's director in 2004 and served as director for 19 months. He was previously an undercover agent for the organization and was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 16 years.