• President Joe Biden announced new measures Wednesday to address the national baby formula shortage.
  • Invoking the Defense Production Act gives formula manufacturers priority in obtaining ingredients.
  • The White House also announced plans to use military aircraft to pick up formula from abroad.

The White House on Wednesday announced new measures to address the national shortage of baby formula, including that President Joe Biden is invoking the Defense Production Act.

Invoking the act allows the government require suppliers to send needed ingredients to baby formula manufacturers ahead of any other customers, according to a statement announcing the move.

"Directing firms to prioritize and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs will help increase production and speed up in supply chains," the statement said.

Another announced measure was "Operation Fly Formula," which will allow the Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture to use military aircraft to pick up baby formula from over seas. The statement said the formulas from abroad must meet the Food and Drug Administration's safety standards.

"I've directed my team to do everything possible to ensure there is enough safe baby formula and that it is quickly reaching families that need it the most," Biden said in a video announcing the measures.

 

The measures come as empty shelves have left parents across America scrambling to find food for their babies, especially for infants with allergies who rely on specialty formulas.

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