I'm not defending the ridiculous politicking about government hiring. I agree, it's a blocker to rational thought.

But there is a third option: don't build the bloody website.

I’m trying to make the point that it is rational thought that leads to these situations. But the constraints put in place, often never having known of or considered that projects like this need to be done, cause decisions to be made that from the outside just look batshit insane.

I’ve been through this myself as the software developer who’s contract ends on Tuesday but with a company wide hiring freeze causing the general manager to have to call the global dept manager, someone in charge of 25k people, to personally sign off on extending the summer intern into a full timer.

As for not building the website, that’s fine but it will be more expensive tomorrow.