April 2, 2020 / By Maegan Vazquez, CNN
Washington (CNN) – The White House announced Thursday that President Donald Trump is invoking the Defense Production Act to clear up supply-chain issues encountered in the manufacturing of ventilators.
“Today, I have issued an order under the Defense Production Act to more fully ensure that domestic manufacturers can produce ventilators needed to save American lives,” Trump said in a statement. 
Thursday’s order comes amid increased fears of ventilator shortages around the country. The use of these lifesaving medical devices has skyrocketed among critical coronavirus patients.
The order, the statement said, will help domestic manufacturers “secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus.”