The act, which dates back to the Korean War, allows the president to require businesses to support the country in times of need. The act also allows for incentives given to businesses that do step up.
While Trump issued the order, he's given the control of it to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to actually put it into use, according to The Wall Street Journal.
DPA is also being added to the contract that will get 500 million masks into the hands of the groups that need them, CNBC reported.
Before FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor told CNN that the agency would first use the act for the test kits, Trump tweeted that the act was in force, but hasn't had to be used.
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2020
Gaynor said the government wants to be “thoughtful about not upsetting the balance, making sure we can get it out to the market and the federal government not consume it all.”
He added, "My current focus has been and will continue to be to make sure we get critical supplies to those places around the country that need it the most."
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