Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) recently reacted to the announced closure of a prominent aluminum manufacturer in Missouri by making an odd request of President Joe Biden. In a letter, he asked that the president use the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 to compel the company to remain open so it can continue producing its wares.
However, Hawley’s letter raises questions about the extent of the president’s power, and whether the state should be empowered to make such a move.
In the letter, Hawley addressed the announced closure of Magnitude 7 Metals, explaining that this would be “a devastating blow to working families and good-paying union jobs in my state.” The lawmaker also pointed out that the company accounts for “nearly 30 percent of the nation’s primary aluminum production” and that its loss would “put more than 500 workers out of a job.”
Hawley also argued that…
