USA Today fact-checked that Obama administration depleted federal stockpile of N95 masks

President Trump has acknowledged that the federal stockpile of personal protective equipment is nearly depleted, and there are reports the Obama administration failed to replenish the federal stockpile of N95 masks after the H1N1 influenza outbreak in 2009.

USA Today fact-checked that claim and it didn’t turn out too well for Barack Obama — or Joe Biden.

Both the Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg News reported that the inventory of N95 masks, which filter out airborne particles, was depleted in 2009.

Bloomberg News reported that the 2009 outbreak “triggered a nationwide shortage of masks and caused a 2- to 3-year backlog orders for the N95 variety,” noting that about three-quarters of the federal inventory was distributed and officials “didn’t build back the supply.”