This is a huge part of it. Congress might increase the budget by 3% but when they force something like SLS on NASA that eats 6% of the budget in real terms it

This is a huge part of it. Congress might increase the budget by 3% but when they force something like SLS on NASA that eats 6% of the budget in real terms it was a 3% cut. And this assumes the employees don't deserve any raises or bonuses.