Behind Closed Doors: The Reality of Government Agencies

First Impressions

Years ago, during an internship in Washington D.C., I had the opportunity to explore the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These workplaces were far from ordinary. They were eerily quiet, mostly dark, and seemingly devoid of any significant activity. This strange atmosphere sparked my curiosity about the inner workings of these and other government agencies.

Lack of Media Coverage

Despite the vast number of agencies and employees, there is a surprising lack of detailed media coverage on their operations. Aside from occasional reports submitted to Congress and infrequent audits by the Government Accounting Office, these agencies largely operate without any significant oversight. This is in stark contrast to the comprehensive coverage of publicly traded companies, whose every move is meticulously reported.

A Closer Look

One organization, OpentheBooks, has taken it upon themselves to delve deeper into the operations of these agencies. Their focus is not on exposing classified information, but rather on uncovering the mundane details of everyday operations. What they have discovered would not be acceptable in any private company.

Shocking Findings

The average salary in 109 out of 125 federal agencies exceeded $100,000 per employee. After just three years of service, federal employees were entitled to 44 days of paid time off. In a report to Congress, the Biden Administration redacted 350,000 names and 280,000 work locations from the payrolls. These were not intelligence officers or spies, but regular employees of traditional federal agencies. At the Department of Commerce, the Inspector General found that 23% of sampled employees were overpaid. Some employees took nearly a year to update their duty station, which determines their locality pay. The Department was unable to verify whether these employees were fulfilling their office attendance requirements.

Tip of the Iceberg

These findings are likely just the tip of the iceberg. The Federal Register lists 429 government agencies, far more than the few mentioned in the US Constitution. These agencies, created by Congress, have a life of their own. Their employees are virtually unfireable, and the president has little control over them. The power lies with the permanent class of middle-state bureaucrats who have all the institutional knowledge.

Constitutional Concerns

This system of administrative hegemony has not been seriously challenged in court, despite likely being contrary to the Constitution's intentions. Congress cannot simply delegate its responsibilities to another branch and then absolve itself of the results. This practice disrupts the original Constitutional structure.

Lack of Oversight

What's striking is the minimal oversight of these agencies. Apart from the occasional reprinting of agency press releases, there is little reporting on them. Many reporters rely on the permanent government for information and protection, resulting in a symbiotic relationship that has been building for decades.

Need for Change

There has been recent talk of untangling the relationships between these agencies and the industries they oversee. However, this is not a permanent solution. We need to think more fundamentally. Ideally, we would follow Argentina's lead and eliminate entire agencies from the federal budget.

Rethinking Government

The real solution requires a complete rethinking of government. Every candidate should be asked to explain their view on the role of government. All existing government practices should be evaluated in light of their answer. Voters should also consider what kind of society they want to live in: a free one or a centrally managed one.

Shining a Light on the Problem

The issues at the Department of Commerce are just a glimpse of the larger problem. If a serious think tank were to fully and transparently examine the details, we would likely be shocked by what we discover. As the saying goes, democracy dies in darkness. We need to shine a light on the vast complex of civilian agencies that claim to manage our lives better than we can ourselves.

Bottom Line

The reality of government agencies is far from what we might expect. The lack of oversight, accountability, and transparency is concerning. We must ask ourselves: Is this the kind of government we want? Share your thoughts and discuss this with your friends. Sign up for the Daily Briefing at 6pm to stay informed on this and other important topics.