Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on March 11, raising concerns about the Biden administration’s handling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
The issue is significant because the SPR is intended as an emergency energy stockpile for national security and supply emergencies. Cotton said its use for political purposes could undermine the government’s ability to respond to international crises and potentially lead to higher gas prices.
In his letter, Cotton said, “I write to express my concerns about the Biden administration’s actions related to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and its consequences for the U.S. government’s ability to respond to the illegal attacks by the Iranian regime in the Middle East.” He continued, “The Biden administration released 180 million barrels from the SPR between April and October 2022 to suppress gas prices ahead of the midterm elections. That decision drained the reserve to a 40-year low. The decision to drain the SPR was not a response to a supply emergency; it was a deliberate political act designed to protect Democrats from the consequences of their own failed energy policies.”
Cotton also referenced previous actions by Democrats regarding the reserve. He wrote, “This wasn’t the first time Democrats undermined the reserve. In 2020, they blocked the Trump administration’s effort to invest $3 billion in domestic petroleum for the SPR, calling it a ‘bailout’ for the oil industry. Then, in January 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008, which imposed a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore waters. This executive order constrained domestic production while the administration was draining the reserve.”
He emphasized that with roughly 20 percent of global petroleum liquids moving through critical areas like the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining adequate reserves is essential for national security rather than political strategy.
Cotton concluded his letter by commending former President Trump’s efforts toward replenishing reserves and requested information from Secretary Wright regarding how recent policy decisions have affected current SPR levels and domestic supplies.
