(Smithfield, RI) -- Honeywell International is laying off nearly 500 people at its facility in Smithfield. Honeywell brought on that number of workers at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to manufacture N-95 masks. President Trump announced the workforce buildup and praised Honeywell's efforts at a time when there was concern about frontline workers not having access. But the company now says there has been a dramatic reduction in demand for N-95s in the U.S.
photo: Getty Images