I'd jokingly counter with what's the purpose of middle managers? We can just get rid of the middle layers of the bureaucracy right? But the pandemic should be

I'd jokingly counter with what's the purpose of middle managers? We can just get rid of the middle layers of the bureaucracy right? But the pandemic should be a good example of the role state governments play. In this case with picking up the slack when the federal government is refusing to take action on a problem.