Coronavirus: What is the Defence Production Act?

President Trump announced that he would invoke the law in the coming days

Many parts of New York City sat mostly dormant amid the coronavirus outbreak. REUTERS (REUTERS)

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the US would be taking further steps to to tackle Covid-19 by invoking the Defence Production Act (DPA).

Mr Trump sent a tweet out to his followers saying that “invoke “P” means Defense Production Act!”

The president’s declaration came shortly after he claimed General Motors had failed to follow through on their promise for more ventilators, amid a shortage due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He tweeted: “As usual with “this” General Motors, things just never seem to work out. They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed Ventilators, “very quickly”. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar. Always a mess with Mary B. Invoke ‘P’.”

Soon after he tweeted about the act, the president announced that “we have just purchased many Ventilators from some wonderful companies. Names and numbers will be announced later today!”

Speaking to the press earlier in the month Mr Trump suggested that certain supplies will be prioritised, saying that “we have targets for certain pieces of equipment. We have targets for masks. ... We need respirators. We need ventilators.”

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 92,932 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 1,380.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.

Everything you need to know about the DPA is below.​

What is the DPA?

The DPA is a federal law that “confers upon the president a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in the interest of national defence,” according to a report by the Congressional Research Service.

The act gives the president authority over various categories, including “priorities and allocations,” which forces industry to give the government priority on orders and “Expansion of Productive Capacity and Supply,” which gives the president authority to expand production of critical supplies or goods.

Those are not the only two authorities enabled by the act, but are the ones that are most likely to be used during the coronavirus pandemic, with supplies of masks and other critical goods low.

When has it been used?

The DPA was first invoked in September 1950 during the Korean War and was used mainly for the steel industry, providing labourers alongside interest free loans to enable a greater production of necessary goods and supplies.

Although the law was based on World War II measures, the act was mainly utilised in the 1980s, primarily in regards to innovation for the department of defence.

It has been used over 50 times since 1950 and is a relatively common act, despite its origins during wartime.

Mr Trump most recently used the DPA in 2019 to increase the production of rare-earth magnets, due to concern that China would restrict exports on them.

What will it be used for?

During the coronavirus pandemic it has become clear that the US does not have enough medical supplies, particularly masks and ventilators.

With coronavirus particularly damaging to sufferer’s lungs, more ventilators are necessary if the healthcare system will manage as cases increase.

The act will enable Mr Trump to force manufacturers to give priority to orders of critical supplies and goods.

Mr Trump has not yet announced how exactly the act will be used, but mentioned that the administration ”have targets for masks. ... We need respirators. We need ventilators.”