“Folks, I’m excited to tell you that the first flight from Operation Fly Formula is loaded up with more than 70,000 pounds of infant formula and about to land in Indiana,” Biden, 79, said in atweet.

“Our team is working around the clock to get safe formula to everyone who needs it,” the president added.

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U.S. airmen load pallets with baby formula which arrived by three trucks from Switzerland for the United States at Ramstein American Air Force base on May 21, 2022 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. A total of 32500 KG will be flown to the USA tomorrow morning. The U.S. government has launched Operation Fly Formula, in which the Agriculture Department, the Department and the Department of Health and Human Services and the Pentagon are cooperating to find alternative sources of baby formula from abroad after Abbott Laboratories temporarily closed a Michigan manufacturing plant following possible contamination in February. The closing has resulted in a nationwide shortage of baby formula.

A second flight, carrying Gerber Good Start Extensive HA formula, is expected to arrive sometime later this week.

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Each formula, the outlet noted, is hypoallergenic and was created for babies who are allergic to cow’s milk protein.

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Nearly empty formula shelf.SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty

The first flight, which departed from the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, delivered the much-needed formula to Indiana. The location was chosen as it’s home to a Nestlé distribution hub, perCBS News.

“We at FedEx are honored to be called on to use our network in support of this important mission with the U.S. Government,” Richard W. Smith, President and CEO-elect of FedEx Express, said in astatement. “The lack of access to formula is impacting babies and families across the country, and we are proud to support the distribution of these critical items to deliver hope to those in need.”

RELATED VIDEO: First Lady Jill Biden Addresses Parents Amid Nationwide Formula Shortage in New PSA

Bidenpreviously announcedthat he was “invoking” the Defense Production Act in an effort to improve formula production in the U.S. last week.

In astatementon Sunday, the president said a second Operation Fly Formula flight will transport the remaining Gerber formula to Washington Dulles International Airport. The infant formula will then be transported to a Nestlé facility in Pennsylvania from there.

source: people.com