Lockheed finished producing the Air Force's original order for 59 of the radar-evading planes last year.

Fierce opposition to the B-2 from Democrats already imperils the future of the radar-evading planes, which cost $865 million apiece.

Mr. Bush had sought $3.2 billion for procuring the radar-evading plane.

All told, Congress has approved the purchase of 15 of the radar-evading planes.

The House committee recommended killing the $62 billion program to build the radar-evading plane, allowing only the completion of the 15 planes already in production.

The Navy wants a powerful radar-evading plane that can withstand frequent takeoffs and landings on aircraft carriers.

A delay could increase the cost of the radar-evading plane, whose cost is estimated at more than $500 million an airplane.

The Air Force is already getting 20 of the radar-evading planes, each of which costs nearly $2 billion, and it does not want more.

Congress has already approved financing for 15 of the radar-evading planes, with restrictions on a 16th aircraft.

The Pentagon originally wanted to buy 132 of the radar-evading planes, but Congress refused for the past two years to buy more than 15.