The Victor Davis Hanson Show Unveiling the Deep State: Mark Moyar on "Masters of Corruption"
Jul 20, 2024
Military historian Mark Moyer discusses his book 'Masters of Corruption' and the challenges faced by the Trump administration from the deep state. He shares insights on bureaucratic resistance, managing government divisions, and the importance of government service. The conversation also touches on the supportive environment at Hillsdale College and the decline of military history courses in academia.
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Incoming Appointee Finds Entrenched Career Control
- Mark Moyar described being appointed head of USAID's Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation overseeing ~55 staff and global projects after prior focus on Iraq and Afghanistan.
- He found career bureaucrats had run the office 18 months, locking spending into Obama-era priorities before his arrival.
Slow Hiring Lets Bureaucrats Lock Policy
- Slow political hiring lets career officials lock in budgets and programs, which becomes the real power center.
- Moyar says bureaucrats used that delay to lock future spending on Obama administration priorities inside USAID.
Conflict Of Interest Led To Lateral Move Not Punishment
- Moyar reported his deputy for a criminal conflict of interest as chairman of a company called Impel, triggering an internal investigation.
- The deputy was forced out of USAID but moved laterally to the Department of Defense with no formal punishment.