The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes $2.4 billion to shore up the defense industrial base

WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a $2 trillion emergency relief package to inject cash into the U.S. economy that includes $10.5 billion for the Defense Department — $2.4 billion of which is to help blunt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on DoD suppliers.

The Senate late Wednesday passed 96-0 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. A House voice vote is expected on Friday.

According to a summary of the bill released March 25 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the $10.5 billion allocated for DoD includes:

$1.45 billion to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on production lines, supply chain, military depots, and labs.

$1 billion for the Defense Production Act to increase access to materials necessary for national security and pandemic recovery.

$1.8 billion for military health care costs and to procure additional medical equipment; a

$1.6 billion for the expansion of military treatment facilities

$415 million for the development of vaccines, anti-virals, lab operations and the procurement of diagnostic tests.

$627.8 million for the procurement of pharmaceuticals and physical protection equipment.

$1.5 billion for emergency deployments of the National Guard.

$713.6 million for medical supplies and physical protection equipment on installations and ships.

$300 million to procure IT equipment and increase bandwidth

$1.1 billion to cover shortfalls in defense private sector care

$20 million for the office of the Inspector General for additional personnel to conduct audits and evaluations of COVID-19 emergency funding

The bill allows the president to extend the service of senior military officials whose appointments are scheduled to expire during COVID-19 crisis to ensure continuity of senior military leadership.