[Jerrrrrrry]

I got the point. I can be wrong then, for the collective interest.

  Even if they hired the sum graduating phd class of every math program in the country

If all the elite Ivy League math outlets followed a similar excellency distribution that would be a waste of budget. But the top 5 PhD's at the top 3 institutions are far more capable then the sum of the remaining, especially to the incredibly niche, relatively uninteresting, math domains that actually impact national security.

  country it wouldn’t change the fact that math phds are not their hiring target.

here? of course not. Math PhD's in general? not even.

but the absolute best of those math PhD's already got poached; the challenge like above is dredging for raw infosec talent

they have to attract and retain the most misunderstood talent in the world in the most specific field with the smallest initial return on investment per head.

not doing so hands the lead over to adversaries, that maintain a near-constant academic/competitive edge due to domestic ...infil.

  None of that has anything to do with advanced capabilities and, again like every other technocracy, has to do with management and ops.

What a coincidence then, they average quite a lot more crypto-maniacs per capita then public sentiment would care to ever be let suggested.

It is so bizarre that a very-well known factoid is so earnestly debated.

[tptacek]

"Factoid" is the right word choice here.