Homeland security director turns down senators' request to testify

Ridge coordinates the government's anti-terrorism effort at home, though the programs themselves are carried out by dozens of other agencies. Appropriations controls much federal spending, including the $38 billion — double this year's total — that President Bush has proposed for next year's domestic security programs.

"Your views and insights on the policies necessary to meet these objectives are critical to the committee and the nation," the senators wrote.

Ridge spokeswoman Susan Neely said he would not testify because he is an adviser to the president, not a Senate-confirmed head of an agency that implements policy.

"Assistants to the president work for the president," Neely said. "And the president has spoken his recommendations to the Senate and House" in the budget he sent Congress last month, she said.

Daschle and other lawmakers also have complained they knew nothing about federal officials who have been working secretly outside Washington since Sept. 11 as a contingency government to guarantee continuity in case of a devastating attack on Washington. The "shadow government" was revealed last week by The Washington Post, and a GOP lawmaker criticized the secrecy surrounding it on Monday.

"We have to have some awareness of this because, as I recall, we are number three in succession here and that might be of interest to them," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., referring to succession to the presidency.