[specialist]

You're describing all procurement, public and private. Only difference is scale.

In the USA, education spending is mostly funneled to cronies. Our elections are well towards being privatized. We blew billions on unnecessary new gear that never worked well and is now landfill. Roads and misc infrastructure is often substandard and overbudget. Etc, etc.

I don't know what the fix is. Maybe more sunshine (transparency, accountability). Like Steve Ballmer's new purpose in life.