From a reader:

Jonah,
I do not want to sound defeatist, but as someone who has spent considerable time working both in the federal government and in the private sector, deadwood is there to stay. Once someone has burrowed into the system, they can basically treat this as employment for life, so long as they do not embezzle, harass or commit some other similar misdeed. They do not actually have to provide real service to the movement. I have long viewed this as just another welfare program for the residents of the District. The only reform that would work would be a hiring freeze — let the civil service whither away through attrition. A direct assault will only prove futile.