For this reason we have been singled out as the group that can be replaced most easily. From one viewpoint this may make sense. At that time LLNL was probably the most exciting place in the country to carry out research, and we were highly productive. Over the years, this has reversed. It is a subtle attitude change, but very real.
Scientists are now clearly a support function to management, and overhead in general.
It is certainly reflected in salaries. Along with this change, there has been the imposition of a massive number of regulations under the guise of improving safety. And, most of these controllers are starting to have higher salaries than the scientists. Thus, they also have been elevated above the scientists. A few months ago I wanted to run an experiment measuring outside evaporation rate vs. vapor pressure to help predict the potential hazard of a liquid chemical spill.