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Notes -
Since you seem to know more about this than I do, how much control or influence does congress have over research grants? I mean unless congress decides to not fund geology or astronomy in any form, my impression is that grants are given by an independent committee of other scientists with minimal interference.
I am not sure what the exact breakdown is but I know a lot of grants for science funding run through the National Science Foundation which is funded by Congress and Congress has previously used its influence to bar funding for certain topics.
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