[adastra22]

That seems like typical establishment / reactionary push-back. NSF is spinning up Focused Research Organizations, which are very effective ways of getting basic research done that wouldn't otherwise be funded, and to do so in a way that allows for commercial spin-offs. That's not a handout.

[TimorousBestie]

The whole point of an FRO is to have less oversight than a traditional government grant or contract.