Chuck Schumer’s American Energy Hypocrisy

Schumer Calls for Using the Same Strategic Petroleum Reserve He and Biden Drained As They Enacted Their Anti-American Energy Agenda

LEADER SCHUMER IS CALLING ON PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RELEASE OIL FROM THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE (SPR), WHICH SCHUMER PREVIOUSLY BLOCKED BILLIONS IN FUNDING FOR

“Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) on Sunday called on President Trump to immediately release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid rising oil and gas prices caused by the military conflict in Iran.” (The Hill: Schumer calls on Trump to tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid rising oil prices – 3/9/26)

“‘The Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists for moments exactly like this,’ Schumer said in a statement.” (The Hill: Schumer calls on Trump to tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid rising oil prices – 3/9/26)

During the COVID pandemic in March 2020, Schumer blocked “$3 billion in funding for oil purchases from the massive stimulus package before Congress.” (Roll Call: Oil purchase to fill strategic reserve dropped from stimulus – 3/25/20)

“Senate Democrats took credit for stripping out that money from the Senate bill, unveiled Wednesday, calling it a ‘bailout’ for the oil industry.” (Roll Call: Oil purchase to fill strategic reserve dropped from stimulus – 3/25/20)

“[A] spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., pointed to the exclusion of the ‘$3 billion bailout for big oil.’” (Roll Call: Oil purchase to fill strategic reserve dropped from stimulus – 3/25/20)

- In March 2020, when Republicans wanted to refill the SPR, the price of Brent crude oil was only $34 per barrel. (CNBC: Oil plunges 24% for worst day since 1991, hits multi-year low after OPEC deal failure sparks price war – 4/6/20)

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DRAINED THE SPR TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN OVER 40 YEARS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DEPLETED ENERGY SUPPLY CAUSED BY BIDEN’S DISASTROUS ANTI-ENERGY POLICIES

“President Biden has overseen the largest sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve ever…” (The New York Times: Even as Oil Prices Ease, U.S. Keeps Tapping Strategic Reserve – 9/29/22)

“Having released 160 million barrels of crude since March, more than a quarter of the stockpile, the Energy Department has reduced the reserve to its lowest level in four decades. Some oil experts say continuing the withdrawals could test the nation’s energy security.” (The New York Times: Even as Oil Prices Ease, U.S. Keeps Tapping Strategic Reserve – 9/29/22)

“But even though oil prices have fallen sharply from their peak, the administration is not ready to start refilling the reserve. Instead, rather than ending the releases in October as planned, it has decided to extend them, at a lower rate, for at least another month.” (The New York Times: Even as Oil Prices Ease, U.S. Keeps Tapping Strategic Reserve – 9/29/22)

Thanks to the massive drawdown during the Biden administration, SPR reserves hit their lowest levels in over 40 years (since 1984):

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(U.S. Energy Information Administration: Petroleum & Other Liquids – accessed 3/9/26)

“The reserve currently contains 415mn barrels of oil, or about 20 days of total US consumption — well below its 714mn-barrel capacity.” (Financial Times: Depleted oil reserve leaves US exposed as Iran war pushes up prices – 3/5/26)

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WENT TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO HAMPER AND BLOCK AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION

“No more drilling on federal lands, no more drilling including offshore—no ability for the oil industry to continue to drill—period.” – Then-Presidential Candidate Joe Biden

As a 2020 presidential candidate, Biden pledged, “I want you to look at my eyes. I guarantee you. I guarantee you. We’re going to end fossil fuel.” (The Associated Press: In intimate moment, Biden vows to ‘end fossil fuel’ – 9/6/19)

Over the first three years of the Biden administration, it took an average of 258 days to complete drilling permits on federal and tribal land. Through the four years of the Trump administration, it took only an average of 172 days. (Reuters: Exclusive: Trump prepares wide-ranging energy plan to boost gas exports, oil drilling, sources say – 11/27/24)

The acreage of oil and gas leases on public land offered by the Bureau of Land Management plummeted during Biden’s presidency. (Deseret News: New leases for oil, gas plummet under Biden-Harris. Will the future hold more of the same? – 9/12/24)

Over the course of his administration, President Biden:
- Canceled the $8 billion Keystone XL pipeline between the U.S. and Canada on his first day in office. (Politico: Biden Kills Keystone XL Permit, Again – 1/20/21)

- Banned all new oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. (U.S. Department of the Interior: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Major Steps to Protect Arctic Lands and Wildlife in Alaska – 9/6/23; CNN: Biden administration will limit drilling in Arctic refuge as it secures president’s legacy – 11/7/24)

- Released a climate rule that would have required most fossil fuel power plants to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 90% between 2035 and 2040 or shut down. The rule would have likely forced coal-fired plants to retire earlier than anticipated. (Politico: Biden rule tells power plants to cut climate pollution by 90 percent — or shut down – 5/11/23; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Proposes New Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants to Tackle the Climate Crisis and Protect Public Health – 5/11/23)

- Announced a pause in granting permits for liquefied natural gas export facilities, a move that had “become a top priority of environmentalists.” (The Washington Post: U.S. Stalls Gas Export Projects That Activists Say Are ‘Climate Bombs’ – 1/26/24; The Hill: Biden Seeks To Appease Progressives With Climate Moves – 1/25/24)

- And in one of his final weeks in office, President Biden announced an order banning new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters, accounting for 625 million acres of ocean.
- To enact this blanket ban, the Biden administration used a provision in a 72-year-old law without providing an expiration date for the order. No president had ever used this authority to block drilling in such a large area of ocean, and it was “legally questionable whether a President can bind his successors in this manner.” (Axios: Sweeping Biden offshore drilling ban throws wrench in Trump's plans – 1/6/25; NPR: Biden makes an 11th-hour move to block coastal oil drilling – 1/6/25; The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: Biden Issues a Sweeping Oil Leasing Ban – 1/6/25)