After working for a government organization for 25 years I can say that you are absolutely correct. We worked with agencies from smaller communities who were sometimes very good. On more than one occasion, I had no choice but to apologize for the incomprehensible stupidity of supervisors who were both affirmative action hires and promotions. Even given that the job was a great blessing and that I was well compensated... these were humiliating experiences. This was especially true knowing that if I were to have tried to bring the problem into the spotlight... I would have been the one who would have faced very negative consequences.
Affirmative action has run amok. Preferences and credits for them have wrecked the workforce.