[EpicEng]

Agreed, but good luck convincing Congress. You have to deal with the reality of the situation. Sure, the money exists, but you won't get it. So what do you do with the money you _can_ get?

[Noxmiles]

Luckily, CERN is not financed by the US Gov.

[EpicEng]

Of course, but problems around funding are not unique to the US. You still have to make do with that you can get.

[Analog24]

The U.S. isn't a member state but the US government (through the NSF and DOE) contribute a ton of money to the research, development, and operation of the LHC and it's major experiments.