Senior Homeland Security Department employees left their jobs over the past two years at rates significantly higher than the average for other Cabinet-level departments, according to a report released Monday by the Government Accountability Office.

Attrition rates for Homeland Security's Senior Executive Service positions or those requiring presidential appointment were 14.5 percent in 2005 and 12.8 percent in 2006, the report (GAO-07-758) stated. That's more than twice the average attrition at all Cabinet-level departments of 7 percent and 6 percent during the same years.

The report comes on the heels of several other accounts of a leadership vacuum at Homeland Security.

* Homeland Security faces continued vacancies in high-level jobs 07/09/07
* Homeland Security chief touts progress filling senior positions 11/15/06
* DHS officials grilled on vacancies in high-level jobs 05/18/06