Frustration mounts at Trump’s reluctance to use emergency production powers

Frustration is mounting at President Trump‘s reluctance to use emergency war powers to accelerate the production of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Less than three months into the pandemic, hospitals, health workers and state and local officials have said they are quickly running out of personal protective equipment like masks, gowns and gloves that are crucial to keeping doctors and nurses on the front lines of the pandemic safe.

Congressional Democrats, health care providers and governors said Trump needs to use those powers quickly in order to spur the massive increase in production and distribution that’s needed.

“There’s never been an instance like this where no matter what you have, it’s not enough,” Trump said at a White House briefing with reporters. 

But in a subsequent tweet on Wednesday evening, Trump indicated that even though he invoked the act, he is in no rush to use it.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/488526-frustration-mounts-at-trumps-reluctance-to-use-emergency-production-powers