NASA takes steps to get research money back.

In 2006 NASA took got their research and development funding cut by 15% (the astrobiology department took a 50% cut, woof!)

Here's a taste of the article from space.com

"When NASA made deep cuts last year to its budget for research grants, scientists whose livelihoods depend on receiving a share of the roughly $175 million in awards the U.S. space agency disburses each year screamed bloody murder."