I read some interview with him and he said he didn't actually lie on his resume, he was just planning ahead for when he did graduate, but failed to update his resume. Uh huh. So he's either a liar or a dipshit.
No professional gives out a 'future' bogus resume, especially when applying for a job at NASA.
As a government employee, I can confirm that we employees get background checks. I had to fill out a 5-page form asking for previous addresses (back 5 years), jobs with names of supervisors, names of people who could vouch for my character, and an updated and current resume. I do not know, however, if they called my degree-granting school or my current school to make sure I had the degree I stated on my resume.
As for Bush pushing an agenda through appointees, for some I think that's true, but for this guy, I'm not sure. I think it's possible this kid was doing what he thought Bush would like him to do. However, if Bush did appoint him for this specific purpose, I would not be surprised in the least. Scientists where I work have had their research suppressed, changed, or have been forced to re-word/re-write certain aspects of it.
I think it's time to do away with presidential appointees... unless it's to their own little posse of ass wipers.