I've worked for government agencies here as well @gooddream , at the Federal, State and Local levels, finding the incompetence you observed to be true in my opinion as well; spread widely throughout all the various levels.
It was such a frustratingly sad experience for me in certain ways... yet, too...it was angering. Attempting to help rectify problems through the 'Chain-of-Command' most often accomplished nothing more than being regarded as the enemy; which is not really an accomplishment :>)
Best wishes.
Ciao