It’s rare that Newt Gingrich and Chris Van Hollen agree, particularly on funding topics, but pigs must be flying, as there’s widespread outrage in light of the 50% cut proposed to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in the President’s Budget Request.
These cuts are distressing on their face, as they represent our nation walking away from investments in scientific discovery and technological advancement with the associated economic boost that comes from these investments. But they’re even more concerning when considered against the backdrop of a rising global power: China.
NASA is the main agency that funds space science — and the agency primarily invests in basic research with no direct applications to specific components of the economy.
