This is indeed an interesting discussion to per-take in, for decades now, government has been majorly responsible for provision of research grants to researchers in Universities and institutes. Unfortunately, such governments are also burdened by fulfilling other obligations in other sectors. The private sector has also immensely contributed to research funding, but their involvement is more often than not for profitability.

Politics always finds it's way in such cases because the whole government was based on that in first place. Bias and favoritism are born trait in humans, no matter how much we try to suppress it, it always surfaces! I think it is very hard to propose an ultimate solution that will completely or at least reduce to the barest minimum the effect of politics on research funding/ research efforts.

Certainly the government shutdown will greatly hinder research and it's long term effect can not be overemphasized. Strikes by academic and non- academic unions also hinder research activities in serious economies. A good example is the nearly 4 months long strike action embarked by academic unions in Nigeria, as a result of which more than 60 public universities across the country have been shut down for nearly 4 months now.