Why the Defense Production Act probably can't solve the U.S.'s protective gear shortage

President Trump has faced widespread pressure to invoke the Defense Production Act and compel companies to manufacturer more protective gear for health care workers as they combat the novel COVID-19 coronavirus. The White House has used it in some circumstances, including forcing auto giant General Motors to produce ventilators, but even if the measures were more sweeping, it likely wouldn't be enough to make up the necessary ground, Wired reports.

"What we are dealing with here is that there isn't sufficient supply and that's a situation where the priority rating system isn't a sufficient answer," said Dave Kaufman, a former senior official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The priority rating system is a key provision of the DPA which allows the federal government to skip the line when it comes to contracts with manufacturers. That's all well and good when the supply is there, but it can't, on its own, account for what's not there.

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"It's a production capacity problem," Kaufman said. "The DPA is designed to stimulate that, but it's not an overnight solution." Read more at Wired.