The Trump administration was set to use the Defense Production Act March 24 to acquire 60,000 COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, but has since deemed it unnecessary, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Peter Gaynor, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told CNN that the administration planned to use the law for test kits and to acquire 500 million protective masks. The law directs American companies to make medical supplies that are in short supply.
However, Vice President Mike Pence said later in the afternoon at a Fox News town hall meeting that invoking the law was unnecessary because companies were voluntarily making supplies in shortage.
After confusion about whether the government invoked the law or not, the president clarified that the government hadn't used the law in a White House briefing at 5:45 p.m.
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Editor's Note: This article was updated at 7:06 a.m. CDT March 25.