Jon Stewart freaks out over bureaucratic boondoggle of ‘Build Back Better’ — ‘I had no idea it was this bad.’

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Jon Stewart, known for his sharp commentary, recently had a jaw-dropping revelation about the bureaucratic nightmare that is the “Build Back Better” program. After listening to Ezra Klein break down the 14-step process just to apply for funding, Stewart was rendered speechless. What Stewart discovered is exactly why the phrase “I’m from the government and I’m here to help” should send a chill down every American’s spine. The complexity and absurdity of this program are mind-boggling, and the bureaucratic red tape is a prime example of why government-run programs are often doomed to fail.

The process begins innocently enough. Step one: Issue a funding opportunity notice within 180 days. Simple, right? But the real horror begins here. Step two requires states to submit a letter of intent, followed by a request for planning grants of up to $5 million. Then comes step three, where the state can apply for those planning grants. But before the money is even given, it must go through step four: review and approval by the NTIA. At this point, we’re already knee-deep in a sea of paperwork, and we’ve barely scratched the surface.

And we’re not even close to the worst part yet. Step six involves the FCC publishing broadband data maps before funds are allocated, and, naturally, states must challenge the accuracy of these maps. This, of course, only sets the stage for more delays and inefficiencies. Why is it that every part of this process seems designed to slow things down, rather than get broadband to the people who need it most?

Now, get ready for this: States must submit an initial proposal (step eight). But wait, they already had a five-year plan, right? What exactly were they applying for in the first place? Klein then goes on to explain that the NTIA must review and approve each state’s proposal—twice! By this point, we’ve reached a level of bureaucratic nonsense that defies belief.

But it gets worse. States must then run a competitive sub-granting process (step 12), which means they’ll need to review applications within their own borders before they can even think about getting funding. And after all that, step 14 requires yet another review before the NTIA approves the state’s final proposal. In case you’re wondering, we’re not talking about one or two states here—this process is supposed to be repeated across 56 jurisdictions. It’s no wonder Jon Stewart was left speechless. The sheer incompetence is staggering.

This is exactly the kind of bloated government program that fuels frustration and skepticism. Americans are supposed to believe that this labyrinth of bureaucratic hoops is the best way to deliver rural broadband. The problem isn’t that these programs are too complicated to navigate. It’s that they’re designed to be this way. A tangled mess of processes that keeps money tied up in red tape instead of actually helping those who need it.

The bottom line is this: What Stewart has just exposed is the heart of why government involvement in anything is often more harmful than helpful. Instead of providing tangible results, these programs bog down communities in paperwork, delays, and frustration. And the people who suffer the most? The very ones these programs are supposed to help—those who need affordable broadband the most.