THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 20, 1996 TAG: 9604200359
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Ditching a favorite program of a powerful Democratic senator, the Pentagon this week suspended operations of the SR-71 ``Blackbird'' spy plane.
Deputy Defense Secretary John White notified key lawmakers of the move in a letter dated April 15. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, persuaded colleagues to approve $135 million in the last two years to bring three SR-71s out of mothballs, despite Pentagon objections.
``I am writing about an unfortunate development which has forced the department to take an action which I know will not please you concerning the SR-71,'' White said in a letter to Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee and supporter of the plane.
Byrd's office said the senator was traveling in his home state Friday and not available for comment.
White cited a section of law that he says prevents the Pentagon from spending money appropriated for SR-71 flight operations. The problem is that while the appropriations bill contains the money, the national intelligence authorization bill contains no language approving spending to fly the Blackbird.
``We regret having to take this action, for it rekindles an unfortunate periodic struggle among our oversight committees, and inevitably places us in the middle,'' White wrote. ``We sought every avenue to avoid this action but there appears to be no legal basis for us to continue operating the SR-71.''
The planes have an operating budget of $35 million for fiscal 1996, which runs until Sept. 30. Suspending operations will save $8 million of that total.
Legislation does allow spending for modifications to the aircraft.
KEYWORDS: DEFENSE BUDGET by CNB