trump uses dpa to restart california pipeline
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The Trump administration’s invoked the Defense Production Act on March 13, 2026, to force a restart of offshore oil operations off California’s Gaviota Coast. Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations under the act. The order would override California laws that had been blocking Sable from resuming work.

The administration said it acted over national security concerns. Officials noted that over 60 percent of oil refined in California comes from overseas. A significant share travels through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway seen as a security risk. The order also cited the need to protect West Coast military bases with reliable energy.

Sable’s facilities can produce around 50,000 barrels of oil per day. That’s about a 15 percent boost to California’s in-state oil output. Monthly production could replace up to 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude. Still, it’d make up only about 0.05 percent of total global oil production. The order prioritizes moving crude through the Las Flores Pipeline System into interstate pipelines.

California Governor Gavin Newsom pushed back hard. He called the move “desperate, reckless, and illegal.” He said it wouldn’t lower gas prices and would put coastal communities at risk. He also pointed to California’s $51 billion coastal economy. State officials brought up a 2015 pipeline spill that released over 140,000 gallons of crude oil near Refugio State Beach. California has long pursued energy independence through renewable sources, which now generate nearly 30 percent of electricity globally, according to recent estimates.

Sable still faces serious hurdles. It needs an easement to run pipelines through Gaviota State Park. It also needs a new Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission. No environmental review or public hearings have taken place. On March 14, California’s Department of Parks and Recreation told Sable to remove its pipeline from the state park. Sable responded by filing a federal lawsuit on March 15, asking a court to confirm its right to operate there.

Environmental groups also raised alarms. The Santa Barbara Environmental Defense Center pointed to Sable’s history of felony criminal charges and court injunctions as reasons for concern. Sable employs more than 100 workers and about 400 contractors in Santa Barbara County, with the DOE stating the restart would support jobs and local economic activity. The directive specifically focuses on restoring the Santa Ynez Unit and its associated pipeline system to move crude oil produced off the California coast to domestic refineries more efficiently.

✅ Claims in this article were verified using AI-assisted fact-checking.

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