Funds for Atomic Bomb Research Cut by Congress

In a rare instance the Republican controlled Congress has gone against the President by dropping research programs for new nuclear weapons from a spending bill. In 2002, Bush called for research into nuclear weapons that could destroy bunkers that were deep underground along with lower-yield weapons, also known as "mini-nukes." The decision against the research was praised by arms-control activists who believed this action would lead to a new arms race and ultimately increase the likelihood of war. Researching new nuclear weapons would have most likely sent the wrong message to the rest of the world by "reopening the nuclear door."