(CNN) When the coronavirus pandemic began to grip the country in March, President Donald Trump announced he would invoke the Defense Production Act and touted himself as a "wartime President" ready to meet the moment. Fast-forward to today -- with cases surging in the US -- and the President has made only sparing use of the law's broad authorities to compel businesses to manufacture equipment for the fight against the virus. As a result, while large health systems and hospitals have been able to build up their inventories of equipment through preexisting contracts, smaller physicians' offices and assisted living communities have had trouble getting what they need. What is the Defense Production Act? The 1950 law gives the government more control during emergencies to direct industrial production.

Source: CNN July 15, 2020 02:26 UTC