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According to a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine, state and local governments have been stopped and had their PPE seized by the Federal government:
"Before we could send the funds by wire transfer, two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrived, showed their badges, and started questioning me. No, this shipment was not headed for resale or the black market. The agents checked my credentials, and I tried to convince them that the shipment of PPE was bound for hospitals. After receiving my assurances and hearing about our health system’s urgent needs, the agents let the boxes of equipment be released and loaded into the trucks. But I was soon shocked to learn that the Department of Homeland Security was still considering redirecting our PPE. Only some quick calls leading to intervention by our congressional representative prevented its seizure. "
There are other examples. What is going on here? Are they just making sure that the PPE is not going to the black market? Are they trying to ensure that PPE goes to where it is needed most?
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