The funding problem is a cultural problem though. Religious right wing politicians in the US have attacked science and education funding at every opportunity. Science and education produce ideas that are at odds with right wing religious orthodoxy, so those things must not be allowed in society.
It's not just that science contradicts orthodox religious views. It's also that humanities education and exposure to a diversity of people and thought can "deprogram" students away from traditional ways of thinking, which is a threat to traditional power hierarchies.
The finding problem is an economic demand problem. There is not enough market demand for research, particularly some... questionable research. Yes, sometimes seemingly useless research can lead to breakthroughs. No, that doesn't make them economically attractive. You are effectively doing the same thing as gambling on crypto.
