The US government will fly in baby formula on commercial planes contracted by the military in an airlift aimed at easing the major shortage plaguing the country

The lack of formula -- the result of a perfect storm of supply chain issues and a massive recall -- is leaving parents increasingly desperate.

The Department of Defense "will use its contracts with commercial air cargo lines, as it did to move materials during the early months of the Covid pandemic, to transport products from manufacturing facilities abroad that have met Food and Drug Administration safety standards," the White House said.

"Bypassing regular air freighting routes will speed up the importation and distribution of formula and serve as an immediate support as manufacturers continue to ramp up production," it said, dubbing the effort "Operation Fly Formula."

Biden has also invoked the Defense Production Act to give baby formula manufacturers first priority in supplies.

"Directing firms to prioritize and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs will help increase production and speed up in supply chains," the White House said.

Biden wrote in a letter to the heads of the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services that imports of formula "will serve as a bridge to this ramped up production."

"I request that you work expeditiously to identify any and all avenues to speed the importation of safe infant formula into the United States and onto store shelves," the president wrote.

The desperation of parents is highlighted on social media, where posts shared hundreds of thousands of times urge people to make formula at home -- a move pediatricians warn against.

The formula shortage also has political consequences, with the Republican opposition -- which has set its sights on wresting back control of Congress in November's midterm elections -- seizing on the issue to berate Biden and the Democrats.