Using the Defense Production Act to Respond to COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to put severe strains on the U.S. health-care system--causing shortages in medical supplies meant to protect frontline workers and help save lives. In March, the President invoked the Defense Production Act, which authorized federal agencies to take steps to prioritize acquiring much needed medical supplies. However, there remains shortages in critical items such as N95 masks and medical gloves. We talk with GAO's Bill Russell--an expert on defense supply-chain integrity and a director in our Contracting and National Security Acquisition team--about a new report on the government’s use of the DPA to respond to COVID-19.