In January 2020, the first case of COVID-19 in the United States was documented in Washington State. Shortly thereafter, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a global health emergency due to the rapid transmission of COVID-19 within Asia, as well as to Europe and North America from the Chinese city of Wuhan. Days later, the Trump Administration restricted global air travel and declared a public health emergency. On March 11, the WHO classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, and the Trump Administration declared a state of emergency on March 13.
Quick, decisive action by the Trump Administration was necessary in the early days of COVID-19 to protect the American people and the nation. Emergency powers, like the Defense Production Act, empowered the President to mobilize production and help to distribute masks, protective equipment, ventilators, and other medical supplies as thousands of American businesses repurposed and retooled their manufacturing capabilities. As Congress debated emergency relief legislation, the executive agencies coordinated needs across states, provided important logistical support, and combated hoarding, price gouging, and cybercrime. The virus persists and federal coordination continues where needed, however the need for emergency action has subsided. These extraordinary powers should be used only when necessary and for targeted purposes.
Looking outward, the Trump Administration also put in place important international travel restrictions early on, in an effort to prevent further exposure from travel to China and other countries with high virus case numbers, and reached nuanced joint agreements with neighbors to close borders. While recognizing the interconnectedness of Americans with the global economy, these restrictions should be lifted thoughtfully and strategically.
Key Heritage Research:
- James Jay Carafano, “Trump’s Emergency Declaration Allows U.S. to Escalate War on Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 17, 2020.
- Thomas W. Spoehr, “Defense Production Act: What It Is and How it Can Fight Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 8, 2020.
- Peter Brookes and Lora Ries, “New State Department Warning Shows Travel Restrictions Key to Curbing Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 20, 2020.
- Ana Rosa Quintana and Lora Ries, “Protecting America’s Borders Is Critical to Combating Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 21, 2020.
- Steven P. Bucci, “FBI Ratchets Up Efforts to Combat Crimes Exploiting COVID-19 Fears,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 10, 2020.
- Brian E. Finch and Lora Ries, “Bush-Era Actions Have Boosted Coronavirus Response Efforts,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 6, 2020.
- Thomas W. Spoehr and Brian E. Finch, “2 Presidents, 2 Books, and the Origin and Intent of the Strategic National Stockpile,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 5, 2020.
Appendix of Heritage Research:
Tom Spoehr, “Pentagon Use of Coronavirus Relief Was for Essential National Security,” The Hill, December 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/pentagon-use-coronavirus-relief-was-essential-national-security.
Lora Ries, “Today (and Every Day) Is National First Responders Day,” Daily Signal, October 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/today-and-every-day-national-first-responders-day.
Lora Ries, “Hurricanes, Fires, Riots, and COVID-19: Why DHS Was Created,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, August 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/hurricanes-fires-riots-and-covid-19-why-dhs-was-created.
Patrick Tyrrell, “2 Musts for Beating COVID-19: Know Who’s Sick, Provide Places to Recover,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, August 21, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/2-musts-beating-covid-19-know-whos-sick-provide-places-recover.
Maiya Clark, “Administration Ramps Up Use of Defense Production Act,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, August 11, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/administration-ramps-use-defense-production-act.
Peter Brookes, “The Effect of Coronavirus on the U.S. Military,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/the-effect-coronavirus-the-us-military.
Lora Ries, “In Hurricane Season and the COVID-19 Response, State and Local Self-Reliance is Essential,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 5, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/hurricane-season-and-the-covid-19-response-state-and-local-self.
Frederico Bartels and Peter Brookes, “Clear Lines of Responsibility Would Facilitate Implementation of the National Biodefense Strategy,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 5079, June 1, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/clear-lines-responsibility-would-facilitate-implementation-the-national-biodefense.
Thomas W. Spoehr, “U.S. Can’t Afford to Take Its Eye off the Ball as National Threats Loom Beyond COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/us-cant-afford-take-its-eye-the-ball-national-threats-loom-beyond-covid-19.
Brian E. Finch and Lora Ries, “Bush-Era Actions Have Boosted Coronavirus Response Efforts,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 6, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/bush-era-actions-have-boosted-coronavirus-response-efforts.
James Jay Carafano, “COVID-19: Another Reason Why the Draft Is Obsolete,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 27, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/covid-19-another-reason-why-the-draft-obsolete.
Maiya Clark, “How Pentagon Is Protecting Defense Supply Chains From COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 27, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/how-pentagon-protecting-defense-supply-chains-covid-19.
Thomas W. Spoehr, “Even Expected Pandemics Are Problematic. Still, We Can Learn From Them,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 17, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/even-expected-pandemics-are-problematic-still-we-can-learn-them.
James Jay Carafano, “Coronavirus Response—U.S. Military’s Crucial Role in Bending the Curve,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 17, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/coronavirus-response-us-militarys-crucial-role-bending-the-curve.
Maiya Clark, “Even Defense Contractors Aren’t Immune to Impact of COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/even-defense-contractors-arent-immune-impact-covid-19.
Dakota L. Wood, Thomas W. Spoehr, John Venable, and Charles Stimson, “In the Wake of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Fracas, Some Insights on Military Protocols and Leadership,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/the-wake-the-uss-theodore-roosevelt-fracas-some-insights-military-protocols-and.
Steven B. Bucci, “FBI Ratchets Up Efforts to Combat Crimes Exploiting COVID-19 Fears,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/commentary/fbi-ratchets-efforts-combat-crimes-exploiting-covid-19-fears.
Thomas W. Spoehr, “Defense Production Act: What It Is and How It Can Fight Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/defense-production-act-what-it-and-how-it-can-fight-coronavirus.
James Di Pane, “Don’t Fall Prey to Cybercriminals Exploiting COVID-19 Pandemic,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 2, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/cybersecurity/commentary/dont-fall-prey-cybercriminals-exploiting-covid-19-pandemic.
Steven P. Bucci, “New Border Pacts with Canada, Mexico Crucial to COVID-19 Response,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 31, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/new-border-pacts-canada-mexico-crucial-covid-19-response.
Thomas W. Spoehr, “The Defense Production Act: Why Voluntary Cooperation Is Nearly Always Better Than Forced,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 25, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/the-defense-production-act-why-voluntary-cooperation-nearly-always-better-forced.
Charles Stimson and Peter Brookes, “Trump Tells Feds to Pay for States’ Use of National Guard on Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 24, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/trump-tells-feds-pay-states-use-national-guard-coronavirus.
Ana Rosa Quintana and Lora Ries, “Protecting America’s Borders Is Critical to Combating Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 21, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/protecting-americas-borders-critical-combating-coronavirus.
Peter Brookes and Lora Ries, “New State Department Warning Shows Travel Restrictions Key to Curbing Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/new-state-department-warning-shows-travel-restrictions-key-curbing.
Steven P. Bucci, “How the U.S. Military Should—and Shouldn’t—Be Used to Defeat Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 19, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/how-the-us-military-should-and-shouldnt-be-used-defeat-coronavirus.
Charles Stimson and Maiya Clark, “What the Defense Production Act Is and How Can It Can Help the Government Fight COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 19, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/what-the-defense-production-act-and-how-can-it-can-help-the-government-fight.
James Jay Carafano, “Trump’s Emergency Declaration Allows U.S. to Escalate War on Coronavirus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 17, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/trumps-emergency-declaration-allows-us-escalate-war-coronavirus.
Kay C. James, “Trump’s Coronavirus National Emergency Declaration Helps Mobilize Nation,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 15, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/trumps-coronavirus-national-emergency-declaration-helps-mobilize-nation.
James Jay Carafano, “Trump’s Coronavirus Travel Ban Makes Sense—Here’s Why,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 13, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/trumps-coronavirus-travel-ban-makes-sense-heres-why.
Thomas W. Spoehr and Brayden Helwig, “Trump Administration Deserves Praise for Strong Coronavirus Response,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, February 7, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/trump-administration-deserves-praise-strong-coronavirus-response.
