The same department has reversed Clinton-era regulations imposing stricter standards on mining operations.

Ms. Spellings denied that the department had reversed course.

But the department reversed itself in 1975, saying Congress had not intended to allow those workers overtime when it created the exemptions the year before.

Since Mr. Mack's departure, the department has reversed a few of his policies.

But he was flabbergasted a year later when the department reversed the earlier decision, withdrew the right and prohibited the mining.

This week, the department is reversing itself again.

The department is reversing a 1998 policy that exempted some plants from such tests for the bacteria.

It was not immediately clear how easily the department could have reversed that view, had it chosen to.

Then, in 2002, the department reversed itself and began certifying organic beef.

After Repohistory threatened court action, the department reversed itself in July.