What is the federal government doing to mitigate a critical shortage of medical equipment?
Little to nothing, it appears, based on Trump's own words.
The Trump regime held a conference call with a group of state governors this morning during which he told states to fend for themselves.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times.
“We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
The suggestion surprised some of the governors, who have been scrambling to contain the outbreak and are increasingly looking to the federal government for help with equipment, personnel and financial aid.
As experts who know better than I do have pointed out, telling state governments to fend for themselves, rather than coordinating distribution through the federal government, will trigger a free-for-all in which states are competing with each other for critical supplies. The federal government could take control of the situation and distribute supplies to areas with the greatest shortage but, with no one at the helm, states will have to find some way to coordinate that themselves.
All things considered, I infer that Trump wants states to handle this themselves because federal control would expose him to greater responsibility while also contradicting his narrative that everything is actually fine. And if things are not fine, he can always blame the governors, right?
Everything about this disaster is exacerbated by having an egomaniacal sociopath in the White House.