We demand that President Trump immediately exercise and fully utilize the Defense Production Act in order to produce Personal Protective Equipment in quantities sufficient to meet the demand.

On March 27, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order 13911, in which he stated that “it is the policy of the United States to expand domestic production of health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID–19, including personal protective equipment and ventilators.” We are petitioning President Trump to take action now to fully implement that stated policy.

The Defense Production Act has been invoked hundreds of thousands of times during the Trump Administration for military equipment, there is no excuse for the continuing shortages of Personal Protective Equipment which are critical during this coronavirus pandemic. President Trump must use the DPA now to ensure efficient PPE production and distribution necessary to meet the needs of all who want these critically needed resources to protect their health and reduce the transmission of COVID–19.

The most effective face masks are N95 masks but currently, the shortages of N95 masks are so severe that the CDC is forced to tell the public that these masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders. Given the fact that N95 masks are the most effective, production of these masks should be increased to levels necessary to cover not only every doctor, nurse, health care worker, and first responder but everyone who wants to use them for their protection.