Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 02 JUNE 2020

COVID-19 And The US Defense Production Act: Latest Developments

Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown
Contributor
Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is a leading international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major...

View firm profile
Explore more from Mayer Brown

This week brought further developments in the use of the Defense Production Act, 50 U.S.C. § 4501 et seq. ("the DPA"), to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

United StatesCoronavirus (COVID-19)
David Dowd
David Dowd
Luke Levasseur
Luke Levasseur
Marcia Madsen
Marcia Madsen
Author LinkedIn connections

This week brought further developments in the use of the Defense Production Act, 50 U.S.C. § 4501 et seq. ("the DPA"), to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. As discussed below, President Trump delegated use of DPA Title III authority to the International Development Finance Corporation ("DFC") to support domestic industry. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA") issued an interim rule, effective immediately, detailing how it is implementing its DPA authorities.

As we have explained previously, the DPA has been used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways. The president has invoked the DPA to facilitate the supply of materials for production of ventilators and to acquire N95 respirators. The DPA has been used both for acquisitions by the federal government and to enable third parties to obtain needed supplies that other entities (including the government) may use.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Visit us at mayerbrown.com

Mayer Brown is a global services provider comprising associated legal practices that are separate entities, including Mayer Brown LLP (Illinois, USA), Mayer Brown International LLP (England & Wales), Mayer Brown (a Hong Kong partnership) and Tauil & Chequer Advogados (a Brazilian law partnership) and non-legal service providers, which provide consultancy services (collectively, the "Mayer Brown Practices"). The Mayer Brown Practices are established in various jurisdictions and may be a legal person or a partnership. PK Wong & Nair LLC ("PKWN") is the constituent Singapore law practice of our licensed joint law venture in Singapore, Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair Pte. Ltd. Details of the individual Mayer Brown Practices and PKWN can be found in the Legal Notices section of our website. "Mayer Brown" and the Mayer Brown logo are the trademarks of Mayer Brown.

© Copyright 2026. The Mayer Brown Practices. All rights reserved.

This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

DOL Announces Enforcement Actions Against Employers In H-1B And PERM Fraud Probe

The Trump Administration has launched an unprecedented enforcement action suspending permanent labor certification processing for eight major employers, linking immigration sponsorship to layoff histories and recruitment practices. This development signals a fundamental shift in how the government evaluates employer access to H-1B and green card programs, with investigations already underway and subpoenas served.
United StatesEmployment and HR
Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown
Article

Landmark DoorDash Settlement Confirms NYC DCWP’s Aggressive Enforcement Posture

New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection secured a landmark $131.5 million settlement with DoorDash, marking the largest worker settlement in the city's history and the largest involving food delivery workers nationwide. The agreement provides over $115 million in direct compensation to more than 260,000 delivery workers who were underpaid, unpaid, or paid late, while establishing a comprehensive three-year compliance monitoring program.
United StatesEmployment and HR
Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown
Article

Trump Administration Announces New Enforcement Actions Against Employers In H-1B And PERM Fraud Probes

The Trump Administration has launched an unprecedented investigation into H-1B visa and PERM labor certification programs, with the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General issuing dozens of subpoenas and suspending employers' ability to process applications. Federal agencies are deploying new enforcement tools including whistleblower programs and criminal prosecution threats...
United StatesImmigration
Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown
Article

EU’s CBAM Downstream Extension And Anti-Circumvention Amendments: The Road To Trilogue

The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is undergoing critical legislative refinement as the Commission, Council, and Parliament have each established distinct positions on extending CBAM to downstream goods and strengthening anti-circumvention measures. With trilogue negotiations now underway and the first political trilogue scheduled for October 2026, significant divergences remain between the institutions on scope, exemptions, and enforcement mechanisms that will shape the final framework
European UnionEnvironment
Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown