WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, will leave his post to take a senior position at the State Department, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

“He will leave to become Deputy Secretary of State,” said a U.S. official who asked not to be identified.

The official said an official announcement is expected soon. But it was not clear how soon Negroponte would be able to leave his current position because there is no deputy standing ready to take over his responsibilities, the official said.

Negroponte’s office declined to comment.

Negroponte will become Deputy Secretary of State, the No. 2 position at the department after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The position was formerly held by Robert Zoellick, who announced his resignation in June to join leading investment bank Goldman Sachs. He had not yet been replaced.

NBC News, which earlier reported Negroponte’s move to State, said Negroponte’s likely successor as head of U.S. intelligence is retired Adm. Mike McConnell, director of the National Security Agency from 1992 to 1996 under former President Bill Clinton.

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