The issue is, quite literally, what is the opportunity cost of this expenditure. If that money could help create a pandemic mitigation framework that would ena

The issue is, quite literally, what is the opportunity cost of this expenditure. If that money could help create a pandemic mitigation framework that would enable us to collectively respond faster and better to outbreaks, which is better to fund? If the money can help us build faster/more computers that enable us to better model many processes: weather, disease, materials, etc. is that a better expenditure? I don't see anyone arguing that science is not a good investment. I do see people asking the salient question of, is this the right science to fund right now, given all of societies needs. The answer to that question should be obvious, we have other priorities at the moment.