Part 3/7:
The critique points out how some allocations seem egregiously unnecessary or frivolous. For instance, the budget includes a staggering $7 billion for the National Science Foundation, a figure that, even after a purported $3 billion cut from the previous year, raises questions about the justification for such spending.
Several examples illustrate the strange and often trivial nature of some research grants funded in these budgets:
$500,000 to determine how much oxygen a fish needs when on land.
$3 million to analyze why the music from Jaws triggers feelings of nervousness in people.
Almost $600,000 allocated to study chimpanzees' poo-fighting behaviors, with a conclusive finding that most chimps are right-handed—similar to humans.