Trump Admin Reopens Pacific Oil Reserve Despite Schiff’s Opposition

The Trump administration has reignited a major Pacific oil reserve that had been shut down for nearly a decade, sending a clear message that energy independence remains a top priority. The Santa Ynez Unit, capable of producing up to 80% of the region’s oil output, is now back online after only five months of work despite fierce opposition from California Democrats like Sen. Adam Schiff.

“Under the leadership of Secretary Doug Burgum, the Department of the Interior has taken decisive action to cut through red tape and streamline permitting processes that had stalled the development of Sable's offshore energy resources for years,” an Interior Department spokesperson said.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) confirmed the reopening on Friday, revealing that the Santa Ynez Unit holds an estimated 190 million barrels of recoverable oil. This marks a significant milestone for domestic energy production, which had been throttled since 2015 due to regulatory and environmental pushback following a pipeline rupture that spilled approximately 500 barrels of oil into the ocean.

Houston-based Sable Energy purchased the site from ExxonMobil in 2024 and moved quickly to restore operations. According to BSEE Deputy Director Kenneth Stevens, President Donald Trump directed his administration to prioritize U.S. resources over foreign imports. “That’s what ‘energy dominance’ looks like: results, not delays,” Stevens said, noting that three oil platforms are expected to be online by the end of this year.

• Energy independence: The reopening is expected to significantly reduce reliance on foreign oil, boosting national security and cutting costs for American consumers.

• Economic impact: Oil industry experts predict the Santa Ynez Unit could bring thousands of jobs back to the California coast and contribute billions to local and federal revenues.

• Environmental safety upgrades: Federal agencies report that the new infrastructure includes advanced safeguards to prevent spills, a direct response to past incidents.

Predictably, Schiff and fellow Democrat Rep. Salud Carbajal have railed against the project, citing “climate crisis” concerns and past oil spills. In a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the pair urged him to resist federal energy efforts, calling the reopening “a threat to California’s environment.”

Carbajal, who recently introduced a bill to permanently ban offshore oil drilling in California, doubled down on his opposition, saying: “Restarting these rigs only enriches Big Oil, while sacrificing the Central Coast’s environmental and public health.”

The Trump administration, however, remains focused on practical energy solutions. Critics argue that Democrats’ fixation on “green energy” ignores the realities of America’s energy needs, especially as electric grid reliability and rising energy costs plague states like California.

By reopening Santa Ynez, Trump is proving that American energy must come first not the interests of foreign oil producers or radical environmentalists. This bold move is a direct rebuttal to the failed policies of the Biden era, which left the U.S. dependent on hostile nations for oil.

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