You misread the article. > the president said his goal can only be achieved through a combination of government spending and contributions from the private sec

You misread the article. > the president said his goal can only be achieved through a combination of government spending and contributions from the private sector. The U.S. currently spends about 2.6 percent of GDP on research and development, according to the most recent National Science Board figures, placing it second overall among the G7 countries, just behind Japan. When it says "the U.S. currently spends", the meaning is not, to my knowledge, "the U.S. government currently spends".