Comment by Retric

The US government operates with such a huge debt that we aren’t paying for these things. Instead we are paying for the long term effects of such spending.

Cutting 10k scientists could therefore result in increased taxes without anyone ever seeing any savings. Or it could result in net gain from 1$ all the way up to what their cost * interest in the debt.

Therefore there’s no obvious side who takes the default win here. Instead you need actual well supported arguments.