President Donald Trump’s energy advisor criticized California as oil tankers from the Middle East arrived at its ports, exacerbating the ongoing oil crisis and escalating gasoline prices.
“This poses a serious risk to our national security, especially during military tensions,” a spokesperson from the Department of Energy told the California Post on Tuesday.
“Even though California hosts over 30 military bases, our approaches have left our military and $4.1 trillion of our GDP overly reliant on foreign oil,” the spokesperson continued.
The most recent oil tanker from the Middle East docked in Long Beach on Monday, likely the last shipment from the Strait of Hormuz for a while.
After this, it’s uncertain when the next shipment may arrive, putting further strain on regional fuel supply chains.
“Rather than addressing the weaknesses created by their own policies, California leaders are blocking the Secretary’s initiatives to revive essential infrastructure and boost domestic energy production,” the office of Chris Wright stated.
The federal and state governments have been at odds over several issues, particularly concerning oil policies.
The Trump administration has issued an executive order allowing Sable Offshore to restart its operations on the Santa Barbara pipeline, which had been closed due to a significant oil spill.
In reaction, California filed a lawsuit, resulting in a judge’s order for the company to continue operations along with an $18 million fine. Sable Offshore is leveraging federal support to contest state regulations more aggressively.
“California’s leaders should prioritize America’s energy security over their political agendas,” a spokesperson for Wright’s office expressed.
In recent years, California has been reducing its own oil production, which has dropped by about 75% since the 1980s.
The state relies on imports for over 60% of its crude oil, much of which comes from Alaska, often described as an “oil island” due to limited pipeline connections with the mainland U.S.
The shutdown of the Phillips 66 Carson/Wilmington plant and the Valero Benicia refinery has cut California’s refining capacity by around 17-18%, raising alarms about potential price hikes and fuel shortages.
The Phillips 66 facility is set to close in late 2025, while the Valero plant will shut down in April 2026, signaling significant and rapid transitions in the state’s energy landscape.
According to the Department of Energy, restarting the Santa Ynez pipeline could boost California’s oil production by 15%, replacing about 1.5 million barrels of imported crude every month.
California has the highest gasoline tax in the U.S., with a state excise tax of 61.2 cents per gallon. As of Tuesday, the average gasoline price exceeded $6 per gallon, roughly $2 over the national average, according to AAA.
