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EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Executive Order on Delegating Authority Under the
DPA with Respect to Food Supply Chain Resources
During the National Emergency Caused by the
Outbreak of COVID-19
LAND & AGRICULTURE

Issued on: April 28, 2020

★ ★ ★

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) (the
“Act”), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The 2019 novel (new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing
outbreaks of the disease COVID-19, has significantly disrupted the lives of Americans. In
Proclamation 9994 of March 13, 2020 (Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak), I declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the
United States constituted a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020. Since then, the American
people have united behind a policy of mitigation strategies, including social distancing, to flatten
the curve of infections and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The COVID-19 outbreak and these
necessary mitigation measures have taken a dramatic toll on the United States economy and
critical infrastructure.
It is important that processors of beef, pork, and poultry (“meat and poultry”) in the food supply
chain continue operating and fulfilling orders to ensure a continued supply of protein for
Americans. However, outbreaks of COVID-19 among workers at some processing facilities have led
to the reduction in some of those facilities’ production capacity. In addition, recent actions in some

States have led to the complete closure of some large processing facilities. Such actions may differ
from or be inconsistent with interim guidance recently issued by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor entitled “Meat and Poultry
Processing Workers and Employers” providing for the safe operation of such facilities.
Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain,
undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency. Given the high volume of meat
and poultry processed by many facilities, any unnecessary closures can quickly have a large effect
on the food supply chain. For example, closure of a single large beef processing facility can result in
the loss of over 10 million individual servings of beef in a single day. Similarly, under established
supply chains, closure of a single meat or poultry processing facility can severely disrupt the supply
of protein to an entire grocery store chain.
Accordingly, I find that meat and poultry in the food supply chain meet the criteria specified in
section 101(b) of the Act (50 U.S.C. 4511(b)). Under the delegation of authority provided in this
order, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take all appropriate action under that section to ensure
that meat and poultry processors continue operations consistent with the guidance for their
operations jointly issued by the CDC and OSHA. Under the delegation of authority provided in this
order, the Secretary of Agriculture may identify additional specific food supply chain resources that
meet the criteria of section 101(b).
Sec. 2. Ensuring the Continued Supply of Meat and Poultry. (a) Notwithstanding Executive Order
13603 of March 16, 2012 (National Defense Resources Preparedness), the authority of the President
to require performance of contracts or orders (other than contracts of employment) to promote the
national defense over performance of any other contracts or orders, to allocate materials, services,
and facilities as deemed necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense, and to
implement the Act in subchapter III of chapter 55 of title 50, United States Code (50 U.S.C. 4554,
4555, 4556, 4559, 4560), is delegated to the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to food supply
chain resources, including meat and poultry, during the national emergency caused by the
outbreak of COVID-19 within the United States.
(b) Secretary of Agriculture shall use the authority under section 101 of the Act, in consultation with
the heads of such other executive departments and agencies as he deems appropriate, to
determine the proper nationwide priorities and allocation of all the materials, services, and

facilities necessary to ensure the continued supply of meat and poultry, consistent with the
guidance for the operations of meat and poultry processing facilities jointly issued by the CDC and
OSHA.
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture shall issue such orders and adopt and revise appropriate rules and
regulations as may be necessary to implement this order.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise
affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability
of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 28, 2020.

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