Trump designates some medical supplies as ‘scarce’ — so hoarding them is now a crime

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that designates certain medical supplies as “scarce” to prevent price gouging and hoarding, according to a White House press briefing.

Attorney General William Barr said Trump signed the order to stop people from hoarding medical suppliesfor the purpose of selling them “in excess of market prices.”

The order is aimed at those who are price gouging N95 masks and stockpiling ventilators and other supplies critical to the treatment of COVID-19, according to the Dalily Caller.

“It’s a crime to engage in prohibited activity,” Barr said in the briefing.

Barr said the executive order is not targeting individuals stocking up on household supplies.

”Stockpiling toilet paper at home won’t be a crime,” Barr said.

But, he said, “If you are sitting on a warehouse with surgical masks, you will be hearing a knock on your door.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told USA Today that he placed an order for 1,000 masks this past weekend, only to see the price go up 20 minutes later.

And brothers Matt and Noah Colvin bought 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes, listing the products on Amazon for $8 to $70, according NBC Boston. Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation into price gouging and the brothers were forced to donate the products to charity, the outlet reported.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 7:59 PM with the headline "Trump designates some medical supplies as ‘scarce’ — so hoarding them is now a crime."