You refer to official rules and procedures as red tape when they seem unnecessary and cause delay.
The little money that was available was tied up in bureaucratic red tape.
N-UNCOUNT [ disapproval ]
RED TAPE
Meaning of RED TAPE in English
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне. 2006