It’s difficult to put the government situation into terms understandable by people who are not in government. In my MBA studies what became apparent over and over was that people do what they are rewarded for and do not do things that they will be punished for. The rewards and punishments are in the hands of people who see a world where America is evil. These people sought and attained positions of power and influence so they can bring their verison of a better world about.
People who are employees do not generally have an overpowering selfless or patriotic impulse that would put their lives or even comfort at risk by telling the world what is really going on. Who would they tell? No news agency will break the party line. When they do, like the New York Times running the Clinton email scandal, you can be certain they are merely pawns in a higher level power play by rival princes of the Democratic party.
I’m certain there are selfless, patriotic employees in the CIA and FBI. I’m equally certain they don’t have the data they’d need to blow the whistle as their bosses will be certain people of their ilk are manning stations far from the rat holes where the data they need is stored.
Further, all of those “independent” watchdogs report to the same rat.
No it's not really, if it is it needs to change.
I work in a highly regulated industry and I sign papers every day/week for which I'm held accountable, under penalty of a fine or imprisonment. In fact, doing my job, people have gone to jail and certainly lost their careers. Hold people accountable and the overseers' will not get away with it. Something has to change.
" I’m certain there are selfless, patriotic employees in the CIA and FBI"
If that is true, then maybe they should start acting like it, don't you think? Personally, I've seen non of it, and am sick and tired of being held to a different standard, for lees important things, actually.