Trump administration order to restart California oil pipeline ignites legal and environmental fight [View all]

Source: KXTV-TV Sacramento, CA

Published: 6:54 AM PDT March 14, 2026
Updated: 6:54 AM PDT March 14, 2026


WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations of a California offshore oil production and pipeline system, arguing the move is necessary to strengthen domestic energy supplies and reduce reliance on foreign crude. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed Sable Offshore to restart the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System under the Defense Production Act, which was recently delegated to the Energy Department through one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders.

According to the Department of Energy, Sable’s facilities are capable of producing roughly 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day, an amount the agency said would equal a roughly 15% increase in California’s in-state production and could replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude oil each month. Federal officials claim the restart is aimed at easing supply disruption risks and helping move more domestically produced crude to refineries, including those that help serve military installations on the West Coast.

“The Trump Administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first,” Wright said in a statement. “Today’s order will strengthen America’s oil supply and restore a pipeline system vital to our national security and defense, ensuring that West Coast military installations have the reliable energy critical to military readiness.” The action is part of a broader push by the administration to expand domestic energy production as tensions in the Middle East continue to rattle global oil markets and raise concerns about the reliability of foreign supply routes.

The move has been met by fierce pushback. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the move, saying it would not lower gas prices and accusing the administration of acting outside the law. “This is an attempt to illegally restart a pipeline whose operators are facing criminal charges and prohibited by multiple court orders from restarting,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will not stand by while the Trump administration attempts to sacrifice our coastal communities, our environment, and our $51 billion coastal economy.”

Read more: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-administration-executive-order-energy-department-santa-ynez-pipeline-system-california/507-3fb84864-5930-40f6-a4a6-2facb5e56653