Corruption eventually starts in every organization, when the workplace develops an informal but strict hierarchy where the only way to get ahead is impress someone who matters.
Most federal agencies have been running for 50+ years so they're further along than a company that started 10 years ago. You can't just start a second NASA to compete with the first one. Private companies also become corrupt but they can fail and get replaced.
I think the biggest factor behind it is misaligned benefits. In a state agency you're paid out of a fixed budget so there is no incentive to work harder or push for changes. But it's the same in a corporation where shareholders and top executives capture profits.
The only permanent way out is make workers collectively responsible for outcomes. Set up an independent employee owned agency that takes fixed price contracts from the government. That way it's guaranteed to never go over budget, and they will often deliver ahead of time so they can take on a new contract sooner.
Most federal agencies have been running for 50+ years so they're further along than a company that started 10 years ago. You can't just start a second NASA to compete with the first one. Private companies also become corrupt but they can fail and get replaced.
I think the biggest factor behind it is misaligned benefits. In a state agency you're paid out of a fixed budget so there is no incentive to work harder or push for changes. But it's the same in a corporation where shareholders and top executives capture profits.
The only permanent way out is make workers collectively responsible for outcomes. Set up an independent employee owned agency that takes fixed price contracts from the government. That way it's guaranteed to never go over budget, and they will often deliver ahead of time so they can take on a new contract sooner.