That opinion is completely wrong. The space program is vital to America's future if any, and is absolutely the only reason America is still in a leadership role today. Further, the space program is the only means available to permanently win the War on Terrorists. The program should be re-oriented toward building a manned base on the moon, a cislunar shuttle system, and a manned outpost on Phobos. The budget may be increased or not. If the Space Shuttle and the ISS are mothballed or handed over to the international community to do with as they see fit, NASA's budget need not increase to achieve these new goals, although the budget may increase by a factor of 2 or 3 without imposing any hardship on the tax-paying citizens. Maybe we'll still be around in 50 years if we make the investment.