President Donald Trump reignited a longstanding energy feud with California through a Truth Social post, detailing an executive order aimed at resuming oil operations related to the Sable Pipeline, alongside a substantial expansion of offshore oil production near the state’s coast. The move stirred reactions from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, which referred Newsweek to prior press statements on the matter.
Governor Newsom expressed his criticism in March, accusing Trump of instigating a crisis by admitting it would elevate gas prices nationwide. Newsom asserted that Trump uses this crisis to pursue longstanding goals of opening up California’s coast to oil industry allies, potentially harming beaches. He affirmed California’s refusal to let the Trump administration endanger coastal communities, the environment, and the billion-dollar coastal economy.
Executive Action Targets Sable Pipeline Restart
A Truth Social post by Trump highlighted an executive order using the Defense Production Act to restart the Sable Pipeline. According to the post, Energy Secretary Chris Wright would issue orders for the immediate production of 50,000 barrels of oil daily, significantly boosting offshore oil output by 550 percent in California.
The post claimed the pipeline’s production of 20 million barrels per year would meet pressing Department of Defense requirements, referencing it as the Department of War, to supply 50 military bases on the West Coast. The initiative aims to override radical California climate laws, positioning itself against coordinated regulatory attacks on American energy dominance.
In March, the DOE announced Wright’s directive for Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations at facilities disrupted by supply risks and national defense needs. The order was executed through Defense Production Act authorities amended by Trump, aiming to bolster America’s oil supply and national security.
Sable’s facility has the capacity to generate roughly 50,000 barrels daily, marking a 15 percent increase in California’s in-state oil production, potentially displacing nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign oil monthly. Trump’s decision to reshare this directive aligns with broader concerns about energy security and disruptions in oil shipments linked to geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
California’s Resistance
California officials have consistently opposed new offshore drilling proposals, including Governor Newsom labeling Trump’s efforts as ill-advised attempts to favor Big Oil donors at the expense of environmental and economic stability. Newsom joined Oregon and Washington governors in opposing new oil and gas lease sales off California’s coast, citing potential threats to coastal economies and marine ecosystems.
California regulators and environmental entities have launched legal challenges against Sable’s restart and associated pipeline approvals. Attorney General Rob Bonta, supported by the State Fire Marshal, challenged federal efforts in January to shift oversight of pipelines from state to federal administration, countering DOE’s Defense Production Act directive for the pipeline restart.
Environmental organizations, including the Environmental Defense Center, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Earthjustice, have aligned with California’s challenge, reflecting ongoing concern about federal initiatives impacting state-regulated coastal areas.
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