FEMA needs to be given the authority to prevent hoarding of the resources needed to fight coronavirus, according to Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Newsmax TV.
"FEMA needs to have whatever legal authority currently exists to prevent hoarding between and among states, hospitals, communities," former secretary Johnson told Thursday's "Greg Kelly Reports." "We understand the threat of hoarding to other countries, but we need to prevent a bidding war that occurs between and among states and communities."
President Donald Trump recently accused some hospitals of hoarding ventilators while others in need of them are in short supply.
Johnson wants the federal government to use the Defense Production Act or some other method to allow FEMA to "marshal resources" to help deal with the coronavirus crisis.
On Friday, Trump invoked the act to compel GM to produce more ventilators.
When asked whether Adam Schiff should launch a committee to investigate the federal response to coronavirus, Johnson said, "We've got to deal with the here and now. People are dying. We're scrambling for bed space.
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