Yes, Minister on How Departments Evade the Plans of Politically Appointed Senior Officials
The fundamental facts are these: (1) cabinet-level secretaries (USA) or ministers (parliamentary systems) are appointed by the heads of state for short periods; (2) senior bureaucrats in the departments are permanent; (3) senior bureaucrats therefore act as agents of the departments; (4) their task is to see to it that ministers or secretaries do the same. Failing this, their task is to stall.