“national laboratories at Los Alamos, NM; Oak Ridge, TN and Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM. These National Laboratories perform scientific tasks that are not only vital to national security but also, in some cases, are mandated by arms reductions treaties”.
There are at least two others on the list, with important accomplishments, Lawrence Livermore, and Idaho National Lab, not to mention the old Hanford Lab that is not as big as it used to be.
See map and lab list at link. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/commercialization/nationallaboratories.html
They along with many other Government agencies are having budget issues with the downturn in the economy.
I think much of the functions of many of theses labs can be privatized, as they already are managed & run by private contractors.
I know in the case of Los Alamos that only a fraction of the scientific time and resources are need for our top Secrete defense needs. Most of the time Lab scientist & resource are spent doing other things like researching Geo-thermal power, or testing theory’s of planetary formation.
The point is while we need to retain the resources & scientist for defense proposes all theses other things need not necessarily be on the tax-payers dime. We can “rent” the researchers time & resources.
I think much of the functions of many of theses labs can be privatized, as they already are managed & run by private contractors.
I know in the case of Los Alamos that only a fraction of the scientific time and resources are need for our top Secrete defense needs. Most of the time Lab scientist & resource are spent doing other things like researching Geo-thermal power, or testing theory’s of planetary formation.
The point is while we need to retain the resources & scientist for defense proposes all theses other things need not necessarily be on the tax-payers dime. We can “rent” the researchers time & resources.
As to where you put them, the property & equipment should legally be considered a military fort. For Constitutional & practical proposes. The Scientist and support personnel on the other hand should as a group be treated largely as they currently are contractors. Only DOD should be supplying the defense research & retention contract, and various other organization can bid on the in-between time & resources.