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Congress is the body that decides budget, not the President. Convince Congress and you will win budget, and legislative directives to accomplish specific tasks. Putting a man on the moon required Congress.

People are now routinely absolving GOP Congress critters, when they are the actual decision makers.

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I'm not sure how the NSF Director should/could by themselves convince congress to not do the funding cut, but sure.

Fred Rogers managed it with PBS. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fredrogerssenatete... Then again, that was Mr Rogers.

By back briefing them about all the impacts on their district/State, the stocks the own, the donors they will alienate, the attack material it provides their opponents, and conversely the opportunity to seize national prominence and respect of mega corps, science believers and donors.

Play hardball, that's the job.

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