In other words, if it does appear idiotic for all the technical reasons, it would follow other reasons are at play. (Call me a cynic, but "pork-barrel" immediately comes to mind.)

I prefer to look at it this way: effectiveness of their ideas is one of the least important things they optimize for. They're driven by constraints that have little to do with actual value to society.

Perhaps not, but it's also quite rare for a minister to be a domain expert in his portfolio.