Bush to end Texas vacation before Labor Day

By Major Garrett, CNN White House Correspondent

CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- President Bush will end his summer vacation in sweltering central Texas earlier than anticipated.

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush will return to Washington on Aug. 31 and spend Labor Day weekend at the White House or Camp David.

Fleischer said the White House blocked off the entire month of August and Labor Day weekend as available for Bush's extended summer break, but the president never committed to staying at his Crawford ranch the entire time.

Fleischer denied Bush was leaving because he was bored with his ranch or concerned about perceptions he had spent too much time away from the job.

"He's just returning to Washington on Aug. 31," Fleischer said. "We never said he would spend the entire time in Crawford."