Hedging their bets and playing an acquisition game I’d say.
With the Kiowa gone, so goes any opportunity to upgrade (I know it’s a little unpalatable for some on this thread to accept, but a revamped Jet Ranger is not what the US Army wants going forward) and no, it's not a Lakota either.
As will be evident, the Apache has its role, but availability rates and cost of operation will force the decision to urgently identify a replacement platform to fill the void left by the Kiowa, so the DoD prioritises a replacement program and the Army gets its new AAS.
Simples!