The gov't in general has a terrible track record in security, primarily due to the fact that they're not willing to pay more than "$45,000 and a Buick"...NASA on the other hand has got the gov't throwing billions of dollars at them so I'd hope they could afford to pay decent rates...anyone on this list who works for NASA? I would love to hear them speak up on the subject.
Federal employees of NASA are subject to the same pay schedules as other federal employees. While agency-specific pay banding is gradually replacing the traditional GS (general schedule) system, one agency really can't pay much more than another for the equivalent position. If you compare job security and certain other less tangible benefits, the federal government becomes a much more attractive employer, especially for those who resisted the siren call of ludicrous salaries during the dot com boom and are, as a result, still comfortably employed.
As to political considerations, yes, they exist. But except at the highest level they really aren't any worse than corporate politics, and often a great deal less arbitrary.
m5x
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