Pentagon sacks point person on Defence Production Act
Jennifer Santos played a lead role in ramping up production of N-95 masks, swabs, ventilators and other key equipment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Pentagon has fired its point person on increasing supplies of protective masks and key equipment during the coronavirus pandemic under the Defence Production Act.
As first reported by Politico, Jennifer Santos, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary of defence for industrial policy, told staff during a tearful staff meeting on Thursday that she had been fired and would leave at the end of Friday.
Pentagon spokesperson Lt Col. Mike Andrews confirmed in a statement that Santos is moving to a position in the Navy.
"The department's commitment to closely partnering with the defence industry remains unwavering, and we will continue to identify and mitigate impacts from the Covid-19 national emergency to ensure readiness and modernization," Mr Andrews said.
Ms Santos had played a lead role in efforts to ramp up production of N-95 masks, swabs, ventilators and other equipment in the US's response to the coronavirus pandemic
Before the coronavirus pandemic in March, she was focusing on how to prevent Chinese infiltration of strategically important US assets.
Ms Santos had been in the role since June 2019, according to her LinkedIn profile. It was her responsibility to partner with industry using the Defence Production Act that gave the government priority with private contractors, according to Politico's reporting.
The personnel change was reportedly a chance for the Pentagon to fill the position with someone that had a stronger background in Defence Production Act-related issues.
Donald Trump first invoked the Act to compel GM to produce ventilators.
Before joining the Pentagon, Ms Santos was vice president for Air Force and Department of Defence innovation at private consulting firm Cypress International, and before that a staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
She previously worked at the Pentagon for the US Air Force "in charge of planning, programming, analysing, reviewing, and liaising to the Hill the Air Force classified programmes".
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments