Esper: DOD may activate National Guard and reserve forces for COVID-19

摘要

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said today the Trump administration is considering federal activation of National Guard and reserve forces to help state and local governments respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. "As we get requests in, we will look at activating them if we need to at the federal level," he said during a Pentagon press briefing. Esper, however, noted that guard forces can be immediately called by state governors. He also said the U.S. military will be tapping its strategic reserves to provide the Health and Human Services Department with five million N95 respirators and 2,000 ventilators.