Evidently ashamed by record in protracted bureaucracy
I believe the answer is:
red tape
'protracted bureaucracy' is the definition.
'red tape' can be an answer for 'bureaucracy' (thesaurus). I am unsure of the 'protracted' bit.
'evidently ashamed by record' is the wordplay.
'evidently ashamed' becomes 'red' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'record' becomes 'tape' ('tape' can be a synonym of 'record').
'red'+'tape'='RED-TAPE'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for red tape that I've seen before include "unnecessary paperwork" , "European regulations?" , "Irritating bureaucracy" , "Scarlet ribbon of bureaucracy" , "(Obstructive) bureaucracy" .)