His bureau continued with a series of impressive successes, the first (and only) Lunar rovers, landings on Venus and robotic sample return of moon rocks.

The bureau will continue to provide full funds for security for protective details for foreign dignitaries visiting the United States.

Ms. Opotowsky said the bureau would continue answering mail inquiries free and would also have a free unlisted phone number for groups that work with the poor.

Yet months pass and the bureau continues to act like, well, a bureaucracy, plodding along in slow motion.

After the last few jurisdictions file their challenges on Monday, the deadline, the bureau will continue its rechecking and recanvassing.

He said the bureau has continued to recanvass, looking for new housing developments and into neighborhoods where it suspects people might have been missed.

The bureau continued its works expanding its fields of works to include meteorology, astronomy, and geomagnetism.

Mr. Mueller acknowledged that the bureau had no suspects and was continuing to examine the backgrounds of a number of people.

Jim Dearborn, an F.B.I. spokesman in Baltimore, said the bureau is continuing its investigation of the thefts.

In addition, the bureau continues to use the antiquated ACS system, which many analysts feel is hampering the bureau's new counter-terrorism mission.