Trump's April Order Already Gives Energy Department Emergency Refining Powers
Diesel hit a record $6.20 a gallon on September 13, the exact shortage that order was signed five months earlier to prevent.
- April 20, 2026: the White House invoked DPA Section 303, citing Trump's declared energy emergency.
- The order lets the Energy Secretary make purchases and commitments outside normal contracting rules.
- Diesel hit $6.20 a gallon nationally on September 13, AAA reported, a new record.
Why it matters: An emergency power signed five months before the emergency arrived was already policy, not response.
White House, Presidential Determination on Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, and Logistics Capacity (Sec. 303, DPA) ↗ · Sep 13, 20269/13/26