The National Production Authority (NPA) was an agency of the United States government which developed and promoted the production and supply of materials and facilities necessary for defense mobilization. It was part of the

Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bu ...

. The agency was created by Department Order 123, issued September 11, 1950, under authority of the Defense Production Act of 1950 and Executive Order 10161 (issued September 9, 1950). The organization's function was to ensure the needs of the civilian economy were adequately represented in defense mobilization efforts, and that small businesses were participating in defense contracts. In 1951, after the escalation of the Korean War, the NPA was placed under the control of the

Defense Production Administration The Defense Production Administration (DPA) was an independent agency of the United States government for oversight and control of the defense production programs of the United States during wartime mobilization in the Korean War era. History and m ...

in the Office of Defense Mobilization. The NPA was abolished by Department Order 152, issued October 1, 1953. Its functions were dispersed among a number of successor agencies, including the Business and Defense Services Administration (1953–1970); the Bureau of Domestic Commerce (1970–1972); the Domestic and International Business Administration (1972–1977); the Industry and Trade Administration (1977–1980); and the International Trade Administration (1980–present).

References

*"New Machine." ''Time.'' January 15, 1951 *Pierpaoli Jr., Paul G. ''Truman and Korea: The Political Culture of the Early Cold War.'' Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri Press, 1999.

External links

Records of the National Production Authority. Record Group 277. 1941-53 (bulk 1950-53). National Archives and Records Administration.
Defunct agencies of the United States government Korean War Military logistics of the United States United States Department of Commerce Government agencies established in 1950 Government agencies disestablished in 1953 1950 establishments in the United States 1953 disestablishments in the United States {{Korea-War-stub