Every year, as the federal budget rolls over, agencies scramble to spend every last penny. This isn’t because they necessarily need to—it’s because, in many cases, if they don’t use their full allocation, they risk getting less next year. The result? An endless cycle of spending, where funds are funneled into consulting contracts, news subscriptions, and nebulous “strategic initiatives” that often lack accountability.
This raises two major concerns: First, are we witnessing the slow rise of a shadow government—an entrenched bureaucratic network with its own self-sustaining priorities? Second, with the national debt surpassing $34 trillion and growing, can we afford to keep operating this way without serious financial consequences?
The Rise of a Bureaucratic Power Structure
When we think of government, we think of elected officials—Congress, the President, governors, and local representatives. But behind the scenes, there exists a vast and largely unaccountable bureaucratic structure that continues to function regardless of election outcomes. This is the so-called “deep state” or, more accurately, the entrenched federal bureaucracy.
Agencies operate under a system where maintaining and growing their budgets is often the primary goal. This results in a system where government contractors, consulting firms, and special interest initiatives wield significant power. The end result is a government that, in some ways, governs itself—less influenced by voters and more by an ever-expanding administrative state that sustains itself through perpetual spending.
Some argue this is necessary for stability. A constantly changing political landscape needs a permanent bureaucratic infrastructure to keep the country running. However, the danger lies in unchecked growth. When oversight weakens, the bureaucracy stops being a support system and starts being an independent power center, making decisions that often escape public scrutiny.
The National Debt Crisis: A Real and Present Danger
For decades, the U.S. has been able to sustain its debt levels due to its unique status as the world’s reserve currency issuer. But with interest rates rising, the cost of servicing the debt is becoming a growing problem. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. spent more on interest payments ($659 billion) than it did on defense ($626 billion). That’s a troubling sign of an unsustainable financial trajectory.
At the heart of this crisis is the refusal to make significant spending cuts. Every dollar in the federal budget has a constituency that lobbies to keep it. Politicians—whether on the left or the right—often avoid serious fiscal reforms because cutting spending is unpopular. As a result, debt ceilings are raised, deficits grow, and the nation inches closer to a tipping point.
Without intervention, we risk a scenario where interest payments consume so much of the budget that essential services—Social Security, infrastructure, national defense—face cuts, or worse, we experience a full-fledged financial crisis. Historically, nations that accumulate too much debt either default, inflate their currency to worthlessness, or impose draconian austerity measures that harm the population. None of these are desirable outcomes.
Can We Fix This Before It’s Too Late?
A balanced approach is necessary. Government spending isn’t inherently bad—after all, it funds critical services. But the current trajectory is unsustainable, and ignoring the problem only makes the eventual reckoning worse.
Here’s what needs to happen:
- End the “Use It or Lose It” Budgeting Mentality: Agencies should be rewarded, not punished, for returning unspent funds. Congress must implement reforms that prevent end-of-year spending sprees.
- Increase Transparency and Accountability: Large, vague government contracts—especially for consulting and media subscriptions—need clearer justification and stricter oversight.
- Targeted Spending Cuts: Rather than across-the-board cuts that harm essential services, we need strategic reductions focused on inefficiencies and redundant programs.
- Entitlement Reform: Social Security and Medicare are facing insolvency. Gradual, sensible reforms must be made now rather than waiting for a crisis.
- Encourage Economic Growth: A strong economy helps mitigate debt, but reckless spending dampens private sector confidence. Pro-growth policies that prioritize innovation and investment should be the goal.
The Bottom Line
The real danger isn’t just wasteful spending—it’s the growing detachment between the bureaucratic machinery of government and the will of the people. Without meaningful reform, we risk both economic ruin and the expansion of a government structure that operates independently of voter influence.
Fixing this won’t be easy, but ignoring it will make the reckoning far worse. The choice is between proactive reform or inevitable collapse. Which will we choose?
