[burger]

Also, given that so much of the pandemic response has been executed by federal agencies, it seems that Congress does not at all shoulder the responsibility to direct federal agencies into action to combat the pandemic.  Congress does not have executive oversight over the CDC or HHS, so the focus on Congress as an actor is inappropriate and inaccurate.

I agree.  Plus, Trump was not afraid to move money around to build the border wall, and they even declared a fake "emergency" to provide a rationale.  Now we have a real emergency by any measure, and I haven't seen any indication that they want to spend money on the virus besides what Congress already allocated.

Congress is not the problem here.

[burger]

Also, given that so much of the pandemic response has been executed by federal agencies, it seems that Congress does not at all shoulder the responsibility to direct federal agencies into action to combat the pandemic.  Congress does not have executive oversight over the CDC or HHS, so the focus on Congress as an actor is inappropriate and inaccurate.

I agree.  Plus, Trump was not afraid to move money around to build the border wall, and they even declared a fake "emergency" to provide a rationale.  Now we have a real emergency by any measure, and I haven't seen any indication that they want to spend money on the virus besides what Congress already allocated.

Congress is not the problem here.