March 18, 2020 / MICHAEL BRADY
The Trump administration on Wednesday said it would invoke the Defense Production Act to increase the domestic production of medical supplies necessary for fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
The Defense Production Act gives the executive branch a wide range of powers to influence the nation’s industrial base for national defense, including the production of essential goods and materials. The administration will likely use its ability to steer private businesses to increase U.S. production of N95 masks and other critical medical supplies and devices. 
Hospitals, experts and policymakers asked the administration to invoke the Defense Production Act earlier, warning the administration for weeks that there’s a critical lack of ventilators and other devices and supplies to address COVID-19.