Story perspectives

White House weighs Defense Production Act for more refining capacity

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 6:04 PM UTC · How we work

Center

White House Boosts Refining

The White House evaluated invoking the Defense Production Act to increase U.S. oil refining capacity during a meeting with refiners on Sept. 11, 2026.
President Donald Trump issued an April presidential determination authorizing DPA support for petroleum production, refining and logistics capacity.
U.S. refineries ran at 98% capacity in late August, the highest utilization since 2000.
A 168,000-barrel-per-day Brownsville refinery is under review as a possible DPA-funded project, funding remains uncertain.

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White House Boosts Refining

The White House discussed using the Defense Production Act to add U.S. oil refining capacity in a meeting with refiners on September 11, 2026.
Donald Trump Jr. holds a passive minority stake in America First Refining, which plans a 168,000-barrel-per-day Gulf Coast refinery.
Industry executives urged using the Act to upgrade existing refineries, not fund a new plant.
Refineries operated at 97.8% capacity while diesel reached $6.06 per gallon on September 11.

History

Historical Context

In 1973, after OAPEC’s oil embargo sparked the crisis, President Richard Nixon announced Project Independence and used emergency authority to boost U.S. refinery capacity. The Energy Department’s $1.2 billion program helped raise national capacity 15 percent by 1975 under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act. In September 2026, the White House and Donald Trump Jr.’s America First Refining are again invoking the Defense Production Act to seek similar capacity expansions.

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White House Boosts Refining

The White House evaluated invoking the Defense Production Act to increase U.S. oil refining capacity during a meeting with refiners on Sept. 11, 2026.
President Donald Trump issued an April presidential determination authorizing DPA support for petroleum production, refining and logistics capacity.
U.S. refineries ran at 98% capacity in late August, the highest utilization since 2000.
A 168,000-barrel-per-day Brownsville refinery is under review as a possible DPA-funded project, funding remains uncertain.

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