Trump Orders Restart of Oil Production Off Santa Barbara Coast

President invokes Defense Production Act to override state and local opposition to offshore drilling project.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:27pm

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President Donald Trump has directed Sable Offshore to resume oil production off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, under the Defense Production Act. Sable Offshore has been unable to produce oil due to ongoing disputes over permitting its Santa Ynez pipeline. The administration claims the move will increase domestic oil supply and strengthen national security, but critics argue it is an attempt to boost profits for the oil industry at the expense of environmental concerns.

Why it matters

This order highlights the ongoing tensions between federal and state/local control over energy and environmental policy. The Trump administration is using emergency powers to override California's opposition to offshore drilling, which could set a precedent for future conflicts over fossil fuel extraction. The move also raises questions about the balance between energy security, economic interests, and environmental protection.

The details

Sable Offshore is slated to produce approximately 50,000 barrels of oil per day, which the Department of Energy says would be a 15% increase to California's in-state oil production and could replace nearly 1.5 million barrels of foreign crude each month. However, state and federal regulators have been battling for over six months over the reopening of the Santa Ynez pipeline needed to transport the oil, with the State Fire Marshal arguing Sable had not completed necessary repairs.

  • On March 16, 2026, President Trump directed Sable Offshore to resume oil production off Santa Barbara.
  • In 2015, a pipeline rupture near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County caused a major oil spill, leading to the closure of three offshore drilling platforms and the pipeline, which are now owned by Sable.
  • In May 2025, Sable resumed oil production in federal waters offshore of Santa Barbara County, starting to extract oil from one of three platforms that had been closed since the 2015 spill.

The players

Sable Offshore

An offshore oil production company that owns three platforms and a pipeline off the coast of Santa Barbara County.

President Donald Trump

The former president who invoked the Defense Production Act to order Sable Offshore to resume oil production off the Santa Barbara coast.

Congressman Salud Carbajal

A U.S. Representative who criticized Trump's order, saying it is an attempt to override the will of California and Santa Barbara County residents.

Center for Biological Diversity

An environmental group that has criticized the offshore oil production restart, citing risks to sensitive habitats and species.

Jeremy Frankel

An attorney with the Environmental Defense Center who argues that the resumed oil production will not lower prices for consumers.

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What they’re saying

“The Trump Administration remains committed to putting all Americans and their energy security first. Unfortunately, some state leaders have not adhered to those same principles, with potentially disastrous consequences not just for their residents, but also our national security.”

— Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy

“The reality is that restarting the Sable project would produce nowhere near enough oil to lower the skyrocketing gas prices families are facing. His reckless war is causing immense damage, and jamming the Sable project through is a hollow solution.”

— Salud Carbajal, Congressman

“This oil isn't going to bring the price of oil down, not by one cent. Trump is using a war that he started to increase profits for his friends in the oil business.”

— Jeremy Frankel, Attorney, Environmental Defense Center

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Sable Offshore to resume operations without completing all necessary repairs to the Santa Ynez pipeline.

The takeaway

This order highlights the ongoing clash between federal energy policy and state/local environmental concerns, with the Trump administration using emergency powers to override California's opposition to offshore drilling. The move raises questions about the balance between energy security, economic interests, and environmental protection.