Some issues in science are already very politicized, with the left and the right being on different sides of an argument, often with religious fervor. A separa

Some issues in science are already very politicized, with the left and the right being on different sides of an argument, often with religious fervor. A separate portfolio and government bureaucracy means more money and power to the party in charge in terms of influencing science, which could easily be misused for harrassing scientists and institutions. There is also the implicit threat of cutting off funding for research, effectively silencing any viewpoints that may be against the agenda of the party in charge. Just to illustrate, if in your opinion the "previous guy" was bad for science, imagine him in charge of this bureaucracy, with Lois Lerner-type harrassment and promotion of research that would be offensive to other political parties.