# White House directs Department of War to expand domestic petroleum capacity The Defense Production Act directive authorizes purchases, commitments and financial instruments to enable petroleum-capacity projects, without specifying a dollar amount or appropriation. Published 2026-10-22 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/22/white-house-directs-department-of-war-to-expand-domestic/ The White House on Oct. 22 directed the Secretary of War to use Section 303 of the Defense Production Act to expand domestic petroleum production, refining and logistics capacity.[1] The Secretary is authorized and directed to make the purchases, commitments and financial instruments necessary to enable petroleum-capacity projects, though the memo specifies no dollar amount or appropriation.[1] The determination includes exploration and production, gathering and transmission pipelines, storage and marine terminals, identifying that capacity as essential to national defense.[1] Citing the national emergency declared under Executive Order 14156, the memo waives specified Section 303 requirements for expanding the capacity.[1] ## Why it matters The memo finds that, without presidential action under Section 303, U.S. industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide the capabilities in a timely manner.[1] It cites constrained financing, long lead times, permitting and infrastructure bottlenecks, and supply chain limitations.[1] It identifies Section 303 support as the most cost-effective, expedient and practical way to meet that need.[1] ## Sources 1. White House: Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, and Logistics Capacity (Oct. 22, 2026)