Sure, and if there were a law proposed in Congress to restrict federal research funding to public institutions and bar all private institutions, we could debate the merits of that.

That is not, however, what is happening. Institutions, without regard to whether they are public or private, are having research funding used as a lever to secure adherence to the political ideology of the ruling party, unilaterally by the executive branch.

The attempt to make this a debate about public vs private institutions is a distraction from and cover for that.

Public works departments can deliver the cement. It’s more efficient to have the cement hauler do so.

not as well. Grants are a competitive process.

When building a highway, the government should put out notice and buy the best offering.

Im not sure why you would want government buying sub-par research just because it comes from a public school

it would solve themselves. all of the good PIs at the good private schools would go to the good public schools. there's no actual inherent reason why private schools are bad like you're implying.

I'm skeptical of the idea that money and fix any problem, and that there are no inherent differences.

Setting that aside, why do you think it is even desirable to limit funding to public institutions in the first place?

Seems like you're starting from this position and moving backwards.

If Public schools are superior, why haven't they already out competed private institutions? They have a pretty huge advantage from additional tax revenue.

private schools were first that's pretty much it.