As hospital administrators and governors have pleaded for more protective gear, the federal government’s national stockpile has dwindled.

The Trump administration initiated a program, called Project Airbridge, that airlifts protective gear to the United States from overseas. Federal authorities have praised the program, saying it serves as a way to swiftly bring gear to communities that need it the most. Overseen by Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, the administration flies equipment procured by the private sector in a matter of days. It redirects roughly half of each shipment to be sold to locations in the United States deemed to be in most urgent need, while the rest is sold to companies, hospitals and local governments that had already placed orders.

But intervention by the federal government has also prompted complaints that FEMA is using opaque and inconsistent criteria to effectively redirect equipment to localities of its choosing.

Dr. Howard Mell, a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians, said medical workers were confused and angered by the reported seizures. “Where is this personal protective equipment going and how do we get it to the right people?” he asked. “We absolutely should be able to access this equipment if it’s being seized in the public’s name.”

Part of the problem is that while large, established medical supply manufacturers and distributors have ramped up production, they have more orders than they can handle — forcing government officials to turn to newcomers to the business. Some are legitimate, others are not.