What potential issue arises when bureaucracies grow without consideration of program costs?

When bureaucracies expand without careful consideration of program costs, they often face the challenge known as resource overreach and a lack of effectiveness. This means that growing bureaucracies may allocate funds and resources to various programs without adequate evaluation of their necessity, efficiency, or overall impact. In turn, this can lead to situations where more money is spent on administration or initiatives that do not yield significant results, thereby straining public finances.

Additionally, with resources spread too thin, bureaucratic agencies may become less effective at delivering public services, leading to diminished public trust and satisfaction. Such growth, especially when uninformed by budgetary realities, can lead to inefficiencies where the output does not justify the input, ultimately hindering the agency's mission and objectives. Understanding this issue emphasizes the need for careful financial planning and program evaluation within governmental operations to ensure that resources are used wisely and effectively.