Trump Gives U.S. Broad Control Over Health-Care Supply Chain

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Bloomberg News

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday giving the federal government broad powers to direct the production and distribution of health protective gear, ventilators and other supplies if the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. gets far worse.

As part of an emergency measure, the executive order lets U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar take priority over private contracts and agreements. The department could also get control over how needed health-care goods are distributed.

It’s not clear how extensively the government would use the powers outlined in the broadly-written order, or whether companies would start legal objections if they disagreed. In a tweet following the signing of the order, Trump said it would be used for a “worst-case scenario,” and hopefully wouldn’t be needed.

The White House cited the Defense Production Act of 1950, which gives the government authority to allocate private resources in a national crisis, as the legal basis for the new authority.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-18/trump-gives-u-s-broad-control-over-health-products-supply-chain?srnd=politics-vp

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Representatives at HHS pointed to Trump’s tweet when asked for clarification.

Link to tweet

[Squinch]

1. We're doomed.

[BootinUp]

6. I think ive seen this scene in an old sci-fi movie...

crazy flick as i recall!

[CurtEastPoint]

2. That GD "Chinese Virus" is as irritating as the "Democrat Party." On purpose they do it. Fucker.

[dalton99a]

10. Chinese is the new Mexican - a new enemy for his cult to fixate on

[Jansen]

19. We've always been at war with the * virus

[mountain grammy]

16. Agree!

[Igel]

17. "Wuhan virus" is more in line with recent practice.

"MERS," "Hong Kong flu", etc.

China really doesn't like that because it seems to say that somehow China was the origin and that's offensive to say.

Prickly.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Great. Something more he can screw up.

Want your ventilators? You gotta praise the fuckwit's 'decisive action'

[not fooled]

4. Let the kickbacks begin!

They probably got red don to sign this EO by telling him that the opportunities for graft and corruption would be enormous.

[Marie Marie]

5. Red States will be first in line...

[BootinUp]

7. Frightening. and like no way to stop the f'er. nt

[IronLionZion]

8. GOP kept obsessing over socialism

they finally decided to seize the means of production

[flibbitygiblets]

9. Did anyone see Rachel tonight? Medical supplies are critical right now, we need this.

Trumpy should have done this weeks ago.

[Lady_Chat]

12. Agree.

[Grokenstein]

13. We need this power in the hands of COMPETENT PEOPLE.

Donny's just going to exploit it for personal gain, screw up royally, then blame the usual suspects.

[olddad65]

11. China has become Russia's rival, so Trump is obligated to make these comments

[Ramsey Barner]

14. SIOKIYAR (Socialism Is OK If You're A Republican)

I agree with this move, and it would make even more sense if we had an FDR-like administration that would use government's control of the means of production to help the country rather than line his cronies' pockets.

[Yonnie3]

15. Defense Production Act was signed by Harry S Truman in 1950

Trump signed something else, it seems an executive order from the news article. He doesn't remember what he said a couple of days before and understands nothing of the larger picture, only cameos and sound bites. Reality show clips are his only forte.

Aside from that, does this mean needed items go to supporters only? Do I trust him and his cronies to be equitable and prevent profiteering?

Hell no.

I not really asking these questions, just venting.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

18. Trump said it would be used for a "worst-case scenario," and hopefully wouldn't be needed.

Listen to the scientists, asshole. We already are in the worst-case scenario. We're mirroring Italy's infection rate curve.

If Azar is in charge of production and distribution, you can be sure that Red States and big contributors will get the tests first. You can also be sure than these will be no-bid contracts, which is the same license-to-steal that was used during Dubya's vanity Iraq war.

Remember, this is a president (sic) who, when asked why celebrities and professional athletes have no trouble getting tested, replied, "[P]erhaps that's been the story of life. That does happen on occasion."