The question was directed to the GS civilian who had the expertise in the area. His answer was stunningly candid, “If you ask me I’ll tell you to clean them all up. That is my field and the more work there is for me, the better the chance that I will not be laid off or that I even will be promoted.”

Behold, the self-licking ice cream cone: Washington, D.C.

It’s like getting a sack-o-s**t and dumping it on your own head.

Wretchard, you are a gentleman through and through, and such a prince of prose, that when you write something as blunt as this, it’s like watching Laurence Olivier do stand-up comedy. And do it really well. Thanks for a (surely unintended) belly laugh.