Some inside and outside the agency are concerned that the lower status for the program directors will cause defections and make it more difficult to attract top talent to the positions.

The one great worry for Citigroup is that its problems and continued squabbling between Citicorp and Travelers executives over corporate turf, may ultimately cause defections among its clients to more stable firms on Wall Street.

Republicans warned that such plans would raise prices, lower benefits or cause defections from the program, stranding the elderly people who rely on them.

Yet the fast-expanding embrace of tax software by do-it-yourselfers seems unlikely to be causing significant defections from preparation professionals.

The Kirtland era ended in 1838, after a financial scandal rocked the church and caused widespread defections.

The massacre caused defections in the army, the government and the diplomatic service.

Called back to his riding after the remainder of his disastrous Prairie tour was canceled, Howe found that Fisher's appeals had caused defections among Liberals.

The Kirtland era ended in 1838, after the failure of a church-sponsored bank caused widespread defections, and Smith regrouped with the remaining church in Far West, Missouri.

However, they caused many losses and defections to the Yuans' side.

Or should the threat to expel Athens be followed through, at the risk of causing further defections, with monetary union being reduced to a Franco-German rump?