President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday directing some federal agencies to only purchase certain drugs and medical materials when they are made in the United States.
WashingtonPresident Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday directing some federal agencies to only purchase certain drugs and medical materials when they are made in the United States. The order will specifically direct the Defense Department, Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs to source their supplies from manufacturers within the United States — and away from major producers located in China and India. The scope of the order remains unclear, because it will direct the FDA to produce a list of « essential medicines, medical countermeasures and critical input » that will be covered by the new requirements. It comes after an initial scramble within the United States to obtain medical supplies and equipment at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, much of which has been produced or sourced from abroad. Earlier in the pandemic, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to compel American companies to produce medical supplies and equipment.
