I don't know why NASA needs new wind tunnel... I don't think NASA has a future in air or spacecraft... at present NASA already seems obsolete. Private industry seems to be the only spacecraft in operation

https://x.com/NASA/status/2083289440542208058 this link says the NASA quoted reason for a new multi-million-dollar wind tunnel is "to play a role in developing experimental planes and future Moon and Mars missions"  

 Hmmm,... not much atmo on the moon or mars, so, what's the point of aerodynamic tested craft? 

And we sure as hell ain't going to send anyone to Mars in the next century or two, if ever... it's a one way trip, at best,  based on the crew needing more food and water than we can currently send with them