WASHINGTON - PREPARING for a possible showdown with Congress, the White House has threatened to veto a US$680 billion (S$1.02 trillion) US military spending bill if it contains money for jet fighters the Defence Department does not want.

In a statement of administration policy, President Barack Obama's Office of Management and Budget said the US$369 million a House committee added to the bill for 12 additional F-22 fighters runs counter to the 'collective judgment' of the military's top leaders.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates wants to end production of the radar-evading F-22 after 187 aircraft have been built.

Last week, in a preview of the White House's veto threat, Gates called the funding boost a 'big problem.' -- AP