The Jungle

Abstract

The bureaucratic jungle is over 3,000 miles long and 1,000 miles deep. It includes 12 departments, over 60 “independent agencies,” and several dozen other official and quasi-official organs of government. Most are in the executive branch of the U.S. government, reporting to the president, but a few belong to the legislative branch (Congress) and a few to the judicial branch. Most rely on contractors, at least to some extent, to carry out their programs and discharge their statutory obligations. Some use contractors only occasionally; others use contractors regularly, in great abundance, and for great sums of money.

The jungle is a hunting ground, where you find big game and small game among the vines and creepers and in the tall grass.