Defense Production Act of 1950

E67044

The Defense Production Act of 1950 is a U.S. federal law that grants the president broad authority to direct industrial production and prioritize contracts for national defense and emergency preparedness.


Statements (67)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
emergency preparedness law
abbreviation DPA
administeredBy Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
amendedFor Cold War mobilization needs
energy crises
homeland security and terrorism concerns
public health emergencies
appliesTo critical infrastructure
industrial base
national defense-related supply chains
authorityType allocation of materials, services, and facilities
antitrust protection for approved cooperative activities
financial incentives for industrial expansion
installation of equipment in private industrial facilities
prioritization of contracts and orders
provision of loans and loan guarantees
subsidies and purchase commitments
voluntary agreements with private industry
codifiedIn Title 50 of the United States Code
containsTitle Title I
Title III
Title VII
country United States
enactedBy 81st United States Congress
grantsAuthorityTo President of the United States
hasBeenAmended yes
includesProvision authority to establish voluntary agreements and plans of action
authority to requisition property in limited circumstances
penalties for willful violation of priority orders
reporting requirements to Congress
legalBasisFor Defense Production Act Fund
originalPurpose support the Korean War effort
publicLawNumber Public Law 81-774
purpose ensure timely availability of essential domestic industrial resources for national defense
expand productive capacity and supply for national defense needs
prioritize and allocate materials, services, and facilities for national defense
protect and restore critical infrastructure during emergencies
relatedConcept emergency economic powers
national defense industrial base
war powers of the president
requires consultation with industry where feasible
scope critical infrastructure protection and restoration
disaster response and recovery
emergency preparedness
homeland security
national defense
shortName Defense Production Act
signedBy Harry S. Truman
signingDate September 8, 1950
subjectTo periodic reauthorization by Congress
titleIIIPurpose expansion of productive capacity and supply
titleIPurpose priorities and allocations of materials and services
titleVIIPurpose general provisions and voluntary agreements
usedDuring COVID-19 pandemic
Cold War defense mobilization
Gulf War-era defense production
Korean War
usedFor increasing production of medical supplies and ventilators
increasing production of personal protective equipment
supporting critical minerals and materials supply chains
supporting defense industrial base modernization
yearEnacted 1950

Referenced by (5)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Civil Reserve Air Fleet
Office of Defense Mobilization
United States emergency management system ("Defense Production Act emergency authorities")
legalBasis
Defense Production Act of 1950 ("Defense Production Act Fund")
legalBasisFor
Defense Production Act of 1950 ("Defense Production Act")
shortName

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