If, as half of the Senate is; and if, as half of the Congress is, you are a millionaire or a multi-millionaire, you can buy as many scientists as you think you need.  

Most of them didn't get their millions working for the government on a salary.  

The Golden Rule:  "He who has [control of] the gold, rules!"

Those scientific 'dummies' determine whether anyone gets any money for their next "golly-gee-whiz" research project or not!  Politics is not a scientific meritocracy!