It's not just happening in the Department of Homeland Security. In my department, large expenditures have to be approved by a higher up. Not sure of the amount, but it's much less than $100,000. I answered a phone call a few weeks ago from the local power utility that was threatening to shut off our power because of unpaid bills. It didn't happen, so I guess payment was approved.
Currently, I'm trying to arrange an overnight trip to Portland for myself and a coworker to visit with a couple of state and local agency officials. For hotel and per diem, it'll be about $550. I'm having a lot of trouble getting it approved. As it is, I'll have to use my personal credit card and get reimbursed later as my government travel card still has a credit limit of $1.
Is this anyway to run a government?