Trump invokes Defense Production Act for more companies, including GE

President Trump today again invoked the Defense Production Act for more companies to speed the production of ventilators needed to treat people suffering from COVID-19.

Trump, in a statement, said he is giving the Health and Human Services Department the authority to streamline ventilator production at GE, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical.

"My order to the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of homeland security will help domestic manufacturers like General Electric, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus," he said. "I am grateful to these and other domestic manufacturers for ramping up their production of ventilators during this difficult time. Today's order will save lives by removing obstacles in the supply chain that threaten the rapid production of ventilators."

Trump, who has been criticized for not invoking the Defense Production Act when COVID-19 first became a known threat, used the DPA last week to compel General Motors to build ventilators.