So much for the Defense Production Act
Earlier today Donald Trump tweeted his frustrations with General Motors’ unwillingness to manufacture emergency ventilators, then added “Invoke P” in apparent reference to the Defense Production Act. Major news outlets later reported that Trump had indeed signed the DPA into effect against General Motors. But now it turns out that’s not really the case.
Georgetown Law Professor Marty Lederman clarified that what Donald Trump signed today doesn’t necessarily change anything:
Not quite: Best I can tell, today's presidential order re: GM production doesn't do anything new (as a legal matter): It directs Secretary Azar to exercise as he "determines to be appropriate".the authority Trump previously delegated to him pursuant to the DPA. https://t.co/WsGaEM2Xm8
— Marty Lederman (@marty_lederman) March 27, 2020
.
In other words, it looks like Donald Trump was lying when he claimed that he invoked the Defense Production Act today. Then again, that’s to be expected from a pathological liar like Trump – particularly when he’s reduced to tweeting things as nonsensical as “”Invoke P.”
