NASA does a tremendous amount of science with the relative puny budget of $16-$17 billion a year
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/142458main_FY07_budget_full.pdf. If anything I think that they should receive more money. Sadly enough, Americans have better things to spend their money on like $14.7 billion a year on holiday decorations, $18.8 billion a year on cosmetics & perfume and a staggering $110 billion a year on fast food.