OK, then, let's hear it, what perks are you talking about? The $167,000 salary max does indeed apply to top leaders. The Supreme Court does make more -- $217,000 for the chief justice. And you do indeed find Assistant Secretaries flying commercial -- at most business class, and sometimes coach. Cabinet secretaries get exactly the same health benefits that any federal employee gets. The govt sure isn't paying country club fees for anyone. When a senior executive like that travels, they get the same food allowance that I do -- about $40/day in most of the US, $65/day in New York City. I think you'll find that's a bit below Wells Fargo execs. Almost certainly a lot less than even Wells Fargo middle managers, unless the bank for which my father was a middle manager was incredibly cheap compared to its competitors. Heck, until about 2000 federal employees, even top leaders, were not allowed to earn frequent flyer miles when they travelled.

All in all pretty small rewards relative to other leaders of comparably sized organizations, not only in the private sector but often less than some municipal officials (school superintendents, fire chiefs, etc), college presidents, non-profit executives, etc.