On taking office in January 1961, Kennedy was informed that the missile gap was an illusion. On 28 March 1961, after $800 million (equivalent to $ billion today) had been spent on the B-70 program, Kennedy canceled the project as "unnecessary and economically unjustifiable""1961 Budget Message". "Kennedy Archives", 28 March 1961, pp. I-38.</ref> because it "stood little chance of penetrating enemy defenses successfully." Instead, Kennedy recommended "the B-70 program be carried forward essentially to explore the problem of flying at three times the speed of sound with an airframe potentially useful as a bomber." After Congress approved $290 million ($ billion today) of B-70 "add-on" funds to the President's 12 May 1960 modified FY 1961 budget, the Administration decided on a "Planned Usage" of only $100 million ($ million today) of these funds. The Department of Defense subsequently presented data to Congress that the B-70 would add little performance for the high cost.