COVID-19: Analysis of White House National Emergency Declaration and Implementation

On Friday afternoon, 13 March, President Trump addressed the nation from the Rose Garden declaring COVID-19 a national emergency and announcing significant actions and changes to regulatory regimes to contain the spread of the virus and provide relief to the American people. In addition, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reached a deal with the Trump Administration on a large-scale coronavirus response package. On Monday, 16 March, K&L Gates professionals, drawing on more than four decades of experience in advising our clients on the intersection of business and government including in crisis situations, convened to discuss the regulatory and policy implications and consequences of President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and the legislative package.

The significant focus of the emergency declaration at this time is on the healthcare sector and ancillary industries. The discussion featured leaders of our healthcare regulatory and public policy practices, as well as lawyers from our government contracts practice who discussed risks and opportunities for those private sector entities engaging with government on relief-related efforts, as well as supply chain and infrastructure challenges related to relief efforts.