I meant US budget in general. If they believed the ship that is the US federal government balance sheet is sinking, they would jettison whatever they could.

It isn't about funding science in my scenario, its about funding the government.

“The debt is increasing at a slower rate” isn’t really enough when interest rates are non zero. As the US has to keep rolling its debt to higher interest rates it’s going to continue to escape decline even with significant cuts to spending

OK, but if the debt was the actual issue of concern, then we certainly wouldn't be cutting taxes (income) at the same time, would we?

Are you trying to say that the efforts to reduce the deficit are a circus, designed to get us riled up and entertained, so we don't notice the absolute dismantling of proper constitutional procedure so that billionaires pay lower taxes? Whaaat? That can't be possible!