“Why are they at their bases? Why are they not being allowed to serve?“ de Blasio said. “I guarantee you, they're ready to serve. But the president has to give the order.“

More than 8,000 New Yorkers were confirmed to have the virus as of Saturday, exacerbating fears that the city’s medical infrastructure will soon reach its breaking point. De Blasio has said the city could run out of medical supplies in as soon as two weeks.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday the federal government would direct resources to COVID-19 hot spots, including New York.

“We were at the task force meeting yesterday, and it was very clear that the issue in New York was right on the front burner,” Fauci said on CBS' “Face the Nation.“ “The resources that are being marshaled are going to be clearly directed to those hot spots that need it most. And clearly that’s California, Washington state, and, obviously, New York is the most hard hit.“

De Blasio and other Democrats have called on Trump to compel businesses to manufacture more medical supplies through the Defense Production Act.

“The American government is not at full bore right now,” the mayor said. “We've gotten no indication of any factory on 24/7 shifts. We've gotten no shipments. And the U.S. military is at its bases instead of at the frontline.“