U.S. states are spending billions buying protective medical supplies during the coronavirus crisis, but many aren’t sharing details. That worries transparency advocates.
FILE - In this April 10, 2020, file photo, wearing protective masks ground crew at the Los Angeles International airport unload supplies of medical personal protective equipment, PPE, from a China Southern Cargo plane upon it's arrival. States are spending billions of dollars stocking up on medical supplies like masks and breathing machines during the coronavirus pandemic.
Illinois has one of the most detailed tracking websites, showing the date, vendor, purpose, quantity and price of each purchase. In most states, it’s not that easy. Some provided similar information only after the AP pointed to laws requiring the release of government documents. Some states say technological barriers prevent them from posting more information. Others provided no explanation for why they aren’t doing so.
After an AP request in late April and early May, 44 states provided figures showing they had ordered or spent more than $6 billion collectively on protective equipment and ventilators. The actual costs likely are higher, because some numbers were several weeks old and some reported only what they had spent so far, not what was in orders still to be delivered.
“As this crisis is unfolding, the value of that information is less after the government response has concluded,” Diakun said. “There is still time to make course corrections, but only if the public knows they need to be taken.” Colorado said it ordered over $58 million in protective equipment but has paid just $44,000 so far because it hasn’t received most of the supplies. The state has declined to identify its vendors in case they “fall victim to fraud or customs delays” and can’t deliver the goods, the health department said.tracking coronavirus-related spending. It shows what was purchased, from what business, on what date, in what amount and at what cost.
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