U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has directed a Texas-based oil and gas company to restore operations in waters off southern California that were damaged by a 2015 oil spill, invoking the Defense Production Act.

A coalition of 15 states is suing over President Donald Trump’s efforts to fast-track energy-related projects, saying the administration is bypassing environmental protection laws and threatening endangered species, critical habitat and cultural resources.

With the baby formula shortage becoming critical, the Biden Administration is invoking the Defense Production Act Wednesday (May 18) night to speed up the supply.

President Joe Biden is looking at invoking the Defense Production Act this week to increase the mining of critical minerals for the batteries used in electric vehicles.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden administration announced it plans to use the Defense Production Act to assist in the battle against coronavirus. The Defense Production Act was also used by the Trump administration early in the pandemic to increase the production of ventilators. During a Friday press conference, the White House COVID Response Team revealed details about how the act will be used to aid in three key areas. He said the Defense Production Act will be used to prioritize getting critical supplies for Pfizer, including more filling pumps. The act will also be used to help six suppliers make at-home and point-of-care COVID tests.

(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)Mexico posted a record spike in coronavirus cases on Friday, with 21,366 newly confirmed infections, about double the daily rate of increase just a week ago. The National Health Commission said 90 of those confirmed cases were in Hebei province, adjacent to Beijing, where the country’s biggest recent outbreak occurred. State health officials announced this week that vaccine eligibility would be expanded to educators and seniors beginning Jan. 23. But federal officials have since said the stockpile was exhausted when those promises were made and governors can’t expect any windfall shipments. President Donald Trump had invoked the Defense Production Act to address various aspects of the COVID-19 public health crisis.

GM awarded government contract to build 30,000 ventilatorsPublished: April 8, 2020, 12:09 pmGeneral Motors has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to build 30,000 ventilators by August.