FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 30, 2020
Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Keeping Meat Plants Open Amidst Pandemic
WASHINGTON – President Trump announced on Tuesday that he intended to order meat plants to stay open by declaring them essential infrastructure under the Defense Production Act. This order comes after more than 6,000 meat workers have tested positive and 20 have died of COVID-19. Across the country, plants have been closing in response to the increasing rates of infection, leading to national concern about food supply.
Government Accountability Project’s Executive Director Louis Clark said,
“While workers on the lowest rung of corporate ladders are forced to return to these plants, their bosses stand to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lobbyists for the meat industry are already pressing Congress to exempt these companies from any liability for the inevitable public health fallout. Obviously, this would be a previously unimaginable ‘win–win’ situation for greedy corporate interests. For the workers, their families, and the communities where they live, the public health and economic losses will be immeasurable.”
Contact: Andrew Harman, Communications Director
Email: andrewh@whistleblower.org
Phone: (202) 457-0034 x156
Government Accountability Project
Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.
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