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Originally Posted by dirk digler
BRC pretty much answered this but yes they could contract with another company or force them. The government has wide authority to do what needs to be done in a crisis like this.
We also need to start making certain drugs here in the US as well that way we aren't dependent on China.
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They have wide authority to prioritize "common good" manufacturing over course-of-business manufacturing. For example, forcing GE to make more ventilators.
From my understanding, they can also disburse funds for starting up operations but it doesn't give them the authority to force a company to make something that is currently something they don't make. For example, if Purell only makes hand sanitizer in Malaysia and has no facilities here, they can't force Purell to make it here without additional incentives. My understanding is admittedly limited however.
Also, while making drugs here would be a good thing, the government can only prioritize drugs related to the immediate crisis of course. Wholesale manufacturing of drugs in the US would be a sweeping change largely covered outside of the DPA.
It would have been nice if the government would have been incentivizing companies for the past 2 decades to not move all their operations overseas, but that ship has sailed, pardon the pun. Despite the gravity of the COVD situation, it's still a relatively "mild" crisis and here we are. Imagine what things would be like if it were more lethal or if were in some kind of war?
So yes, you're absolutely right. This needs to get fixed, both in the short-term and the long.