What you need to know about the Defense Production Act and why it matters to the coronavirus pandemic

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

• President Donald Trump is under a lot of pressure to use the Defense Production Act to help the US with its coronavirus response.
• The law gives Trump broad powers to pressure the private sector into producing materials necessary to aid the national defense.
• Trump has invoked the Korea War-era law, but has not yet used it in any material way.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump is under mounting pressure from governors and congressional lawmakers in both parties to stop flirting with tapping into the powers granted to him via the Defense Production Act and fully use it to help the country with its response to the coronavirus pandemic.  

Trump and his officials have sent confusing, mixed messages about the law. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: A law professor weighs in on how Trump could beat impeachment

See Also: