Biden invokes the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of baby formula as parents face a national shortage

President Joe Biden is using the Defense Production Act to address the national shortage of baby formula.

The act allows the government to require suppliers to send ingredients to baby formula manufacturers ahead of any other customers, according to a statement announcing the move.

The statement said that directing firms to prioritize and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs will help increase production and speed up in supply chains.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture will be able to use military aircraft to pick up baby formula from over seas. The statement said that the formulas from abroad have to meet FDA safety standards.

Biden said in a video that he had directed his team to do everything they could to ensure there was enough safe baby formula and that it was quickly reaching families that needed it the most.

—President Biden (@POTUS) May 18, 2022

The empty shelves have left parents across America scrambling to find food for their babies, especially for infants with allergies who rely on specialty formulas.