I think when you run for Congress or POTUS, one has to (rightfully) be optimistic and hopeful in a way that resembles a greenfield project. The problem is, in reality, you're inheriting a project that has been iterated upon for many, many generations. There are so many levels of abstraction that have been created to manage this, that it makes even having productive conversations about fundamental problems impossible because there are too many that have to sit in a room at once. Even if it does happen, it's going to be with folks that have built an extensive network of government vampires they can bat-signal other departments to sabotage efforts.

So given this reality, the elected officials that do genuinely have pure intentions either have to compromise, and continue maintaining the existing codebase, or become a heretic and suggest doing a rewrite.

There are also lots of unpolitical government departments that deserve to be left completely in tact. Departments that are soley mission driven and have a purpose are good in my book, and I say that as a very staunch anarcho-capitalist. I'm thinking NOAA, for example. Yes, they get a few drops of money for political efforts, but that's not their fucking job in any meaningful way. Same with the FAA.