When I worked on Future Combat System (FCS) it was the largest Army procurement in history. We had no documentation but to stay on the “spend” plan, on which corporate bonuses were based, we hired dozens of people towards the end of each year. Because we had no documentation they had nothing to do but play computer games. This went on for three years. Thank God they finally cancelled this farce. But being paid to do nothing is very common in government work.
This has gone on my entire life, and I'm retired 7 years now!
This has been true of all State, County and city governments too.
The screaming need and justification for prohibiting this is the best argument for 'zero-based budgeting'. But even this is meaningless until these additional things are made mandatory :
No service, equipment or supply purchase may be made that is not actually used during the subsequent quarter.
In other words, no 'warehousing' or hoarding for future 'excess inventory sales.'
Violation of the new rule shall constitute a criminal violation of law, Punishable to the highest responsible party approving the spending, whether by actual signature or robo-signature.
This generations-old practice is among the top three drivers of inflation, over which working, non-public employee productive Americans have absolutely no control. But they certainly pay the price! Compounded forever!