As usually happens with centralized government, I expect agencies given far reaching powers for reasons that were compelling when initially established – to be used for purposes other than those for which they were intended.
I blame the compelled for their short sightedness.
As do I Realism. It bothered me then as well. The road to hell is paved with good intentions... as the old platitude goes.
People better take this seriously because bad things are going to come very quickly. This guy is not credulous or naive; he is quite evil.