Trump Energy Secretary Wants U.S. Oil Refineries Back Up and Running to Ease Pain at Gas Pumps
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration is working to reopen shuttered U.S. oil refineries and expand capacity, which officials say would bring down the price of fuel.
Speaking in Houston, Wright said that officials are exploring restarts at multiple closed plants, according to a report from Reuters.
“We are talking about reopening every refinery we can,” he said. “There are dialogues there, and that’s a tough challenge. I’m not saying all these are going to happen.”
Wright explained that the Trump administration is contacting owners of every refinery shut down in the past decade to determine which sites present the most workable restart options.
The administration also announced it will make up to $150 million available under Title III of the Defense Production Act for projects that expand petroleum production, storage, and logistics at refineries nationwide.
The Department of Energy said the funding is meant to lift domestic refining output by millions of gallons per day, improving supply and helping lower costs for households and businesses.
.@POTUS in IOWA: Tonight, I am announcing that my Administration is using the Defense Production Act to release $150M to increase American refining capacity and produce more diesel and more gasoline. pic.twitter.com/cp47oaaaOf
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 23, 2026
Wright cast the effort as a break from prior policy.
“After 17 years of Democrat leaders enacting energy subtraction policies that led to the closure of refineries and more expensive refined oil products, the Trump Administration is taking action to expand our nation’s refining capacity and strengthen our energy security,” he said.
“Thanks to President Trump, America is producing more oil and gas than ever before and thanks to President Trump, we will soon be producing more refined products as well. These Defense Production Act funds will be used strategically and in partnership with private industry to rapidly bolster America’s existing energy infrastructure.”
The funding rests on a determination by President Trump that petroleum production, refining, and related activities are essential to national defense.
It follows a $1 billion appropriation for energy-related national security work included in legislation signed last year. Vice President J.D. Vance has previously cited the same authority as a tool for expanding capacity at a Texas refinery owned by Delek US Holdings.