Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) has announced that the Senate dropped funding for work on the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) project. He says the earth-penetrating focus now will shift to the Pentagon’s approach using conventional warheads. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld won’t be happy about that, having specifically asked for the funding in a recent letter to the Senate.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3