You're adding words that aren't there. If in the past they could do 98% of their job without political influence most people would describe that as being free

You're adding words that aren't there. If in the past they could do 98% of their job without political influence most people would describe that as being free to do their jobs without influence. If there's now political hacks interfering in 50% or more of their job that's a big change. If in the past the political hacks were never interfering with THEIR role, just affecting what projects get funded, and now the hacks are interfering directly with them and controlling what they can say or publish - that's obviously new and significantly worse influence.