The existence of negative externalities or tradeoffs does not inherently imply incompetence.

I remember reading that the USACE said the NOLA levees would not adequately protect against a category 5 hurricane but the powers that be didn’t think the added cost for a more robust design was worth the risk. If true, it doesn’t imply USACE was incompetent but that we live in an uncertain world with tough tradeoffs.

That you were able to grow up in Florida at all is largely because of the Army Corps of Engineers.