McLaughlin, 62, a veteran intelligence analyst, served as acting CIA director for over two months this summer until Goss took over.

McLaughlin warned Goss, former chairman of the House intelligence committee, that Patrick Murray, Goss' chief of staff on the intelligence committee, was treating senior officials disrespectfully and risked widespread resignations.

Also on Friday, Deputy Director of Operations Stephen Kappes, the agency official who oversees foreign operations, also tenderedhis resignation after a confrontation with Murray.

Goss and the White House pleaded with Kappes to reconsider and he agreed to delay his decision until Monday, the report said.

Several other senior clandestine service offices are threatening to leave, according to the report, citing current and former CIA officials.

There has been turmoil in recent weeks as Goss has tried to make changes in the CIA.

Goss, a Florida Republican, brought four of his congressional aides with him to the CIA shortly after he took over in September.

Current and retired senior officials at the CIA have criticizedGoss for not interacting with senior managers and giving Murray too much authority over day-to-day operations.

The disruption comes as the CIA is trying to stay abreast of a worldwide terrorism from al-Qaeda, a growing insurgency in Iraq, the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan and congressional proposals to reorganize the intelligence agencies.

The agency has been criticized for not preventing the Sept. 11,2001, attacks and not accurately assessing Saddam Hussein's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction.