Psaki said the use of the Defense Production Act is ‘on the table

The White House is considering using the Defense Production Act to remedy the infant formula shortfall, according to press secretary Jen Psaki.

When pressed for a timetable for fixing the countrywide shortage, Psaki claimed the White House could not provide one.

Psaki addressed a number of questions on the ongoing supply chain problems in the United States at her farewell press appearance at the White House. Most notably, the country is in desperate need of new infant formula after a recall depleted massive volumes of stock in U.S. retailers.

“This is a pretty significant question,” Psaki added, “but it’s difficult for us to answer from here.” She stated that no decision had been taken on the Defense Production Act, which allows the government to compel a private corporation to make a certain product.

According to Psaki, the shortages felt across the country are regional challenges that would necessitate diverse responses.

“Sometimes the difficulty here is that larger merchants have a more streamlined approach for filling the shelves than smaller businesses,” noted Psaki. “A lot of people go to businesses in their town to buy infant formula, and there may be a slight delay in replenishing those shelves.”

The press secretary went on to list the efforts the federal government is doing to alleviate the short-term shortages. The White House is paying reimbursements to states in order for them to address their stock locally, and WIC participants will have more options in selecting formulas for their children.

“So we’re striving not just to address – which we’ve been working on for months – but to guarantee that there is better availability, consistent supply on the shelves for as long as possible,” Psaki explained.

On Thursday, the White House announced that it had taken steps to address the shortage, including “working with other infant formula manufacturers to increase production, expediting the import of infant formula from abroad, and calling on both online and in-store retailers to establish purchasing limits to prevent hoarding.”

The Biden administration also said Thursday that it will slash red tape, encourage state attorneys general to crack down on price gouging, and increase imports even further.

“As you are aware, the FDA has recently acknowledged the shortage, which was caused by its warning and recall,” Ladapo wrote to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, referring to the February recall of baby formula produced by Abbott Nutrition, which produces the vast majority of the formula consumed in the United States.