Since the start the whole program was simply a scam, that is all there is to it, everyone involved knew it was a scam.
I can guarantee you that China will bring back samples before the US, simply because their program was built to bring back results, practically, while NASA's was meant to subsidize PHDs of people involved, while baiting people with "aliens!!!!1", there is no reason why the state should be funding the PHDs of people involved with niche/weird research rather than focus on what the vast majority want and support NASA for.
You can have obscure research as a side mission, not the core, while blatantly lying too.
I can guarantee you that China will bring back samples before the US, simply because their program was built to bring back results, practically, while NASA's was meant to subsidize PHDs of people involved, while baiting people with "aliens!!!!1", there is no reason why the state should be funding the PHDs of people involved with niche/weird research rather than focus on what the vast majority want and support NASA for.
You can have obscure research as a side mission, not the core, while blatantly lying too.