The order harkens back to the hectic days of the early pandemic, when 'PPE' was in short supply at American hospitals.

The Biden administration will use wartime powers to significantly increase the supply of rapid at-home and point-of-care COVID-19 tests, a move some experts say could go a long way in slowing the spread of the virus. The act will also be used to "rapidly surge" domestic testing capabilities, investing money in six suppliers to produce 61MM at-home and point-of-care tests available by the end of the summer, according to Tim Manning, the White House COVID-19 response team supply coordinator.

"The country is well behind where we need to be on testing, particularly the rapid at-home tests that will allow us all to get back to normal activities like work and school," Manning said.