deep state
noun
A body of people, typically influential members of government agencies or the military, believed to be involved in the secret manipulation or control of government policy: the deep state and its policy of allowing extremist ideologies to flourish may be the actual issues of concern...
- The military commanders of the Deep State do not take up the plow once they lay down the sword.
- The Deep State does not consist of the entire government.
- The amazing thing about the American system is just how it shields from general view the workings of the Deep State.
Origin
1990s: probably a translation of Turkish derin devlet (the term was first used with reference to Turkey).