This study, which deals with the phenomenon of "nepotism" within the Romanian administrative system, intends to present the way in which this practice that has taken roots and has even acquired the status of administrative custom affects the operation of public administration and, thereby, of contemporary Romanian society. The article presents the channels whereby civil servants are recruited and how the prerogatives of their position are exercised. The article also analyzes the government's response to this crisis, which involved layoffs affecting 25% of its staff, coupled with salary cuts by the same percentage, and it points out a series of proposals for remedying the shortcomings observed.