[_heimdall]

The "deep state" is also used to refer to the relatively small number of unelected people who make some of the most impactful decisions on society with no voter input.

I don't know that I've ever actually heard someone talk about the "deep state" to refer to career bureaucrats just doing their jobs in large government orgs / a messy system.

[acdha]

Do you have any examples of people you think do that?

[_heimdall]

Oh I'm not directly making the case that a "deep state" exists, I was just surprised by the way the earlier comment was using the term.