Trump directs war secretary to act on oil capacity after April energy order

US President Donald Trump has directed the secretary of war to use Defense Production Act powers to support domestic petroleum production, refining and logistics. His memorandum of 22 October authorises purchases, commitments and financial instruments, but names no project, spending amount or date for action.

The directive covers activities from exploration and production to pipelines, storage and marine terminals. Trump says financing constraints, long lead times and infrastructure bottlenecks mean US industry cannot provide the capacity in time without federal action. He says a shortfall could severely impair national defence. The memorandum does not quantify that shortfall.

Trump also waives specified requirements within section 303 of the Defense Production Act for the purpose of expanding capacity. That is not a general exemption from project permits.

The finding and waiver are not new. [An April memorandum](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/presidential-determination-pursuant-to-section-303-of-the-defense-production-act-of-1950-as-amended-on-domestic-petroleum-production-refining-and-logistics-capacity/) made substantially the same determination and directed the secretary of energy to implement it. The October version instead addresses the secretary of war; it does not say the April order is rescinded in full.

Separately on 22 October, the Energy Department announced plans for up to $150 million in Defense Production Act funding for refinery-related projects. It said selection was still under way and explicitly cited the April determination, not the new instruction to the secretary of war. The October memorandum sets no funding figure, and it remains unclear which projects, if any, will receive support under that instruction.