Tag: Defense Production Act

Biden releases national COVID strategy, will order agencies to use Defense Production Act

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President Biden released his national strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday, which will include using the Defense Production Act (DPA) and other powers to speed up the manufacturing of testing and vaccine supplies and other items needed to fight COVID-19. 

The Trump administration had resisted calls to release a comprehensive plan to fight COVID-19, instead deferring significant authority to the states. The plan released by the Biden administration Thursday aims to instill confidence in the U.S. pandemic response by accelerating the vaccine rollout, boosting testing and access to treatments and protecting those at most risk, including communities of color.

“For almost a year now, Americans could not look to the federal government for any strategy, let alone a comprehensive approach to respond to COVID,” said Jeff Zients, Biden’s COVID-19 response coordinator.  Continue reading.

Trump names new Defense Production Act coordinator for coronavirus fight

The Hill logoPresident Trump said Friday that White House trade adviser Peter Navarro would become the national Defense Production Act policy coordinator for the federal government as the administration seeks to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump made the announcement at an afternoon press conference at the White House, saying he gave Navarro the new authorities when he signed an executive order earlier that day.

“My order establishes that Peter will serve as national Defense Production Act policy coordinator for the federal government,” Trump told reporters. Continue reading.

Is Trump using the Defense Production Act?

Washington Post logo“The Defense Production Act is in full force, but haven’t had to use it because no one has said NO! Millions of masks coming as back up to States.”

— President Trump, in a tweet, March 24, 2020

″I do not for the life of me understand the reluctance to use the federal Defense Production Act.”

— New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), at a news conference, March 24

As covid-19 cases continue to rise in the United States, some officials say President Trump is dropping the ball by not using the strongest powers he has under the Defense Production Act of 1950.

The law was enacted after the Korean War to ensure that the United States has enough supplies for its defense. Today, the underlying issue is a shortage of ventilators for patients and protective equipment for health-care professionals on the front lines. Ventilators can save lives because they allow patients to breathe when they cannot do so on their own. Continue reading.

To Respond to the Coronavirus, Trump Should Take 6 Immediate Steps on the Defense Production Act

Center for American Progress logoThis week, President Donald Trump announced that he was invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to leverage domestic private industry to generate much-needed medical equipment and supplies that are essential to an effective national COVID-19 response. Unfortunately, he walked it back on Twitter fewer than 24 hours later. Trump is now emphasizing that states need to figure out how to find these supplies on their own. This is a mistake. The Trump administration needs to implement the DPA immediately to avoid the worst-case scenario of massive shortages of critical medical supplies across the country.

Below are six steps that President Trump should be taking now on the DPA:

  1. Stand up a management structure for effective and efficient DPA implementation. This structure will need to bring together state, federal, and other authorities involved in dealing with the coronavirus crisis to ensure that the movement and distribution of needed supplies and equipment can be expedited to those areas most in need. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Response Coordination Center (NRCC), which has representatives from all federal departments and agencies, should take the lead, working in close coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency on logistics and national distribution. Continue reading.

Trump triggers Defense Production Act in coronavirus fight

The Hill logoPresident Trump said Friday he will trigger emergency war powers to accelerate the production of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump told Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in a phone call on Friday morning that he would use the Defense Production Act, according to Schumer’s office.  

Trump at a news conference after the Schumer call said he has put the act “into gear,” but it’s not yet clear to what extent the White House is using the law to access more supplies. Continue reading.

Trump invokes Defense Production Act as coronavirus response

The Hill logoPresident Trump announced Wednesday that he will invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA), which would allow the administration to force American industry to manufacture medical supplies that are in short supply in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Hospitals, health workers and state and local officials have said they are quickly running out of personal protective equipment (PPE), like masks, gowns and gloves, that are crucial to keeping doctors and nurses on the front lines of the pandemic safe.

“There’s never been an instance like this where no matter what you have it’s not enough,” Trump said at a White House briefing with reporters.  Continue reading.