No surprise. This is SOP for most federal agencies if recent reports from multiple sources are to be believed. The same is true on the state and local level. Just visit the DMV. Why worry? It is somebody else's money.

A big problem is that the patent examiner's are unionized.

it's ALWAYS been that way. In fairness, the Treasury appropriated a billion dollars over the last decade for other stuff so that also had something to do with it.

Has db seen a slowdown on response to applications?

that explains a few things....