SACRAMENTO—California Republicans are urging President Donald J Trump to step in and address the state’s escalating oil and gas crisis, with fears that it poses risks to national security as prices keep climbing during the conflict with Iran.
Gas prices have surged across the West Coast, with California’s statewide average reaching $5.159 per gallon on Sunday, according to AAA. In Washington state, the average stood at $4.605, both well above the national average of $3.450. That’s an increase of 51.3 cents for Californians and 23.9 cents for Washingtonians from a week earlier.
The spike comes after a nearly 27% jump in West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the key U.S. benchmark, which hit $90.90 per barrel.
“California is in a death spiral when it comes to our gas and oil prices,” State Sen. Suzette Valladares, a Republican, told the California Post on Sunday. “If the President sees our gas crisis as a national crisis he could step in.”
Lawmakers suggest Trump could invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 to bypass California regulations that have blocked offshore oil operations, potentially boosting domestic production.
The calls come as the Trump administration grapples with broader national fuel price increases tied to Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military campaign against Theocratic and authoritarian Iranian regime that began on Feb. 28.
In a March 5 interview with Reuters, President Donald J Trump downplayed the concerns and has ruled out tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for now.
“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY,” President Trump wrote to Truth Social on Sunday, March 7.
The Trump administration is offering political risk insurance to tankers navigating the Persian Gulf to cut war-risk premiums and maintain oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has also signaled that the U.S. Navy could escort tankers if necessary.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking on Fox News on March 6, described the surge as short-term. “The price surge is temporary,” he said, forecasting a drop “in weeks, I would say, in the worst case.” Wright acknowledged current prices are “more than we’d like them to be” but said they are lower than peaks under the Biden administration.
Author: Mario Lotmore
