The two recent periods of large-scale bureaucratic expansion were the 1910s and the 1990s.
In the 1910s, the United States government underwent a significant expansion of its bureaucratic apparatus. This period was marked by the creation of several new federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Clayton Antitrust Act. These agencies were designed to regulate various aspects of the economy and to protect consumers from unfair business practices. The expansion of the federal bureaucracy during this period was driven by a desire to increase government oversight of the economy and to promote greater fairness and competition.
In the 1990s, there was another period of large-scale bureaucratic expansion in the United States. This period was marked by the creation of several new federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency. These agencies were designed to address new challenges facing society, such as terrorism and environmental degradation. The expansion of the federal bureaucracy during this period was driven by a desire to address these new challenges and to promote greater safety and security.