The Trump Administration's Failures in Contract Management and Inept Negotiation by Senior White House Officials Denied Americans Ventilators During the Coronavirus Pandemic and Squandered Up to $504 Million in Taxpayer Funds
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Serial Number
Levin Center Identifier
Document Date
2020-07-31
Report Length
49 pages
Policy Agendas Project Major Code
Policy Agendas Project Minor Code
Additional, Minority, Dissenting Views
Report Type
Found Using Methodology
Yes
Committee(s)
Subcommittee(s)
Commission(s)
Idependent Author(s)
Brief Executive Summary
The Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy og the House Committee on Oversight and Reform investigated the shortage of ventilators during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on contracts negotiated with Philips Respironics. The investigation revealed that mismanagement by the Trump Administration led to delays and overpayment for ventilators, denying the country crucial medical equipment. Philips failed to meet contractual obligations, and the Trump Administration's negotiations resulted in an agreement to pay nearly five times the original price for functionally identical ventilators. The waste of taxpayer funds could exceed $500 million, highlighting the need for competent contracting oversight to address apparent profiteering.