In the wake of COVID-19, the U.S. health care system was severely strained, leaving federal agencies unable to purchase and maintain essential medical supplies. The federal response to COVID-19 utilized the Cold War-era Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 to expand production of necessary medical supplies and order suppliers to prioritize government contracts.

The Biden Administration has directed federal agencies to allocate resources to strained hospitals and to improve COVID-19 prevention coupled with a surge in federal personnel.

In a pair of letters, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the spike in organized retail theft. The Senator also requests a report regarding federal law enforcement's efforts to combat "smash-and-grab" robberies on brick-and-mortar shops.