The state bought the test kits from South Korea earlier this month, and the state’s
National Guard is guarding them in a secret location to prevent them from being
commandeered by the Trump administration.
Hogan, a Republican, told The
Washington Post about the careful steps he’s taking to ensure the
tests remain in Maryland.
For instance, he had the plane from South Korea land at
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport instead of
Washington’s Dulles International Airport to reduce the chance that the feds
would seize the COVID-19 cargo.
In addition, the plane was greeted by what Hogan described
as “a large contingent of Maryland National Guard and Maryland State Police.”
Hogan explained the reasoning for the intense security
measures. “This was an extraordinarily valuable payload. It was like
Fort Knox to us, because it’s gonna save the lives of thousands of our
citizens,” Hogan told the Post.
The federal government has left states largely on their own
when it comes to testing their citizens and securing critical equipment during
the pandemic. But when it comes to those supplies, Hogan’s concern appears
to have been warranted: There have been numerous reports of the Federal Emergency Management Agency hijacking
desperately needed protective gear for first responders and health care
workers.
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