What is the Trump administration considering to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and why is this being proposed now?

The Trump administration is studying the possibility of tapping oil reserves located beneath U.S. military bases and other Department of War sites to help refill the nation’s depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). This initiative is being considered because the SPR is poised to reach its lowest level since 1982 after historic drawdowns — first under the Biden administration to counter post-Ukraine invasion gasoline price spikes, and then further reduced by a 172-million-barrel release ordered by President Trump amid the Iran conflict and near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has triggered a global fuel crunch and pushed U.S. gasoline prices above $4.50 per gallon.

What did Energy Secretary Chris Wright say about drilling under military facilities, and what precedent exists for such activity?

Energy Secretary Chris Wright described drilling under military bases as a 'pragmatic' and 'creative' approach, noting that some bases sit atop undeveloped oil fields — calling it 'crazy' that those resources remain untapped. He specifically cited Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, where the Trump administration sold drilling rights for nearly 2,000 acres in September 2025; oil and gas leasing at Barksdale has been permitted for decades, making such activity not entirely novel despite its rarity.

US Considers Tapping Oil Under Military Bases to Refill Reserve

May 6, 2026

The Trump administration is exploring oil extraction beneath US military bases to replenish the depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid soaring fuel prices. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized utilizing federal resources creatively to refill the cache without additional congressional funding.

bloomberg

2026-05-06

US Considers Tapping Oil Under Military Bases to Refill Reserve

2026-06-05

US Energy Secretary Says Lower Gas Prices Require Iran Resolution

2026-06-09

US Energy Chief Says Oil Exports Through Strait of Hormuz Will Continue to Rise

2026-06-10

US Energy Chief Says Not Aware of US Taking Oil Out of Iran

2026-06-12

Trump’s Energy Chief Says Half of Hormuz Stoppages Are Restored