President Trump said Friday the federal government has begun to use the Defense Production Act to direct U.S. companies to produce emergency supplies of protective masks for health workers.
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Friday the federal government has begun to use the Defense Production Act to direct U.S. companies to produce emergency supplies of protective masks for health workers dealing with coronavirus patients, but is not using it to procure ventilators.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., became the second top Democrat in Congress this week to call on President Trump to use the power he said he had invoked on Wednesday that would allow the government to push private industry to produce emergency medical supplies for the American system. And on Friday at a White House press conference, Trump said that on Thursday night “we put [the DPA] into gear” but provided no other details.
Hospitals and medical workers are already complaining of a critical shortage of all sorts of crucial equipment, from protective masks, gowns and gloves to respirator masks and ventilators, which assist critically ill patients with their breathing. There are about 160,000 ventilators, which assist sick patients with their breathing, but as many as 740,000 could be needed, according to one study.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump invokes Defense Production Act to expand production of hospital masks and morePresident Donald Trump said during Wednesday's White House press briefing that he will be invoking the Defense Production Act to help make up for potential medical supply shortages and deploy two hospital ships as the US battles the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more »
Trump Invokes A Cold War Relic, The Defense Production Act, For Coronavirus ShortagesA law that allows the executive branch to direct industrial production is being used to spur firms to step up their output of scarce items, such as face masks and ventilators.
Read more »
Pelosi calls on Trump to use Defense Production ActHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on President Trump Thursday morning to use the Defense Production Act powers that he invoked Wednesday, but then said later in the day he was not yet utilizing in the fight against the coronavirus. “Right now, shortages of critical medical and personal protective equipment
Read more »
President Trump Invokes Wartime Law The Defense Production Act—Here's What That DoesAt today's White House press briefing, President Trump said he would invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic—here's what that does: by MattRyanPerez
Read more »
Trump mobilizes powers to speed production of masks, ventilators to fight coronavirusThe announcement came as Trump's administration scrambles to negotiate a roughly trillion dollar deal with Congress to provide cash relief for Americans and possible bailouts for major industries affected by the outbreak.
Read more »
Calling Himself a 'Wartime President,' Trump Invokes Act to Marshal Private SectorTrump also said he will expand the nation's testing capacity and deploy a Navy hospital ship to New York City
Read more »