NASA is hiring a new 'planetary protection officer' to defend Earth from alien matter, and the pay is a six-figure salary: as much as $187,000 a year.
When we are not sure whether aliens exist, why are we still hiring staff for protecting Earth? I do understand we have to take precautions. But when we don't have any proof why spend $187,000 a year?
Source: Nasa [sic] hiring new 'planetary protection officer' to defend Earth from alien matter - Times of India, Aug 3, 2017
Last seen on: Aug 3, 2017
I know it's a legit news item. I've just shared my curiosity regarding the huge salary. And if I'm not wrong, there's nothing in the news item explaining the reason behind the six-figure pay. I'd like to know why someone would be paid that much when we don't know the definite existence of aliens.

That being said, in the absence of
While a NASA spokesman said the planetary protection officer position 'is critical to ensuring the protection of potential future human expeditions to Mars' and 'playing a critical role in human space exploration', some believe the position is 'wasting taxpayers' money'.
This debate reminded me of the time when the United States launched the SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) program in 1983. It was a space-based ballistic missile defense system developed