You have to just remind yourself what signals come in during a crisis (esp new kinds people aren't trained for) takes a while to make sense off. Nothing will make sense initially.
Even for decision makers up and down the hierarchy. Most of the time people, even responsible people with good intent, have no clue what the right move is. But they have to make moves for all kinds of reasons. And problems compound.
It takes time for mistakes to surface and unwind things. So give it time.
Assuming good intent only works if you trust the top decision makers to foster that kind of organizational culture. Unfortunately, in the US, we have a president who has burned most of his bridges, and has lost a lot of “benefit of the doubt”.
And remember is not a dual choice between malice and good. The administration could simply be incompetent, obsessed with control, and afraid to look weak by having states take decisions on their own.
Even for decision makers up and down the hierarchy. Most of the time people, even responsible people with good intent, have no clue what the right move is. But they have to make moves for all kinds of reasons. And problems compound.
It takes time for mistakes to surface and unwind things. So give it time.