But could such a project escape notice--and publicity--outside the NSA? CPU desiginers would have to be brought it, and no doubt much of the work would be contracted out.

Any rumors floating around?

Note: I doubt that they will have to "bring in" CPU designers. Back when I was an EE undergrad in Massachusetts, I had a part-time job at a small outfit that did custom VLSI design work, the guy who ran the mass. office was the best VLSI designer that I had ever seen, he eventually became the chief enginneer on a couple of major CPU projects for a very large well know computer company (not IBM) headquarted in eastern massaachusetts. He was also the mentor to some of the people who made RISC work at berkeley. He learned his trade at the NSA. He told me so himself.