Temporary programs often become permanent because they create dependents and defenders—agencies, contractors, and voters who now have a stake in keeping them alive. Politicians avoid the pain of ending them, and the bureaucracy grows one layer at a time.

The lesson is simple: be careful what you start, and demand clear goals, sunset dates, and accountability. It is far easier to launch a program than to land it. Real solutions respect limits, adapt, and end when the job is done.