Sherman & Lawmakers Challenge Trump Administration’s Effort to Restart California Oil Pipeline

October 15, 2026 Press Release SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and a coalition of Democratic lawmakers in challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to restart the Sable Offshore oil pipeline in California, arguing that the Administration is unlawfully invoking national defense powers to benefit the fossil fuel industry. In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Sherman and his colleagues urged the court to reverse a lower court ruling that allowed the pipeline to continue operating despite questions surrounding the Administration’s use of the Defense Production Act (DPA). The lawmakers argue that the Trump Administration has failed to demonstrate any legitimate national defense necessity for restarting the pipeline, which had remained idle for nearly 11 years. Instead, they contend that the Administration is misusing extraordinary federal authority to circumvent California law and financially benefit a politically connected oil company. The brief also raises concerns about potential pay-to-play politics, noting that the project was headed by a Trump donor and questioning whether the Administration's intervention was motivated by national security considerations or political favoritism. Sherman and his colleagues emphasized that the Defense Production Act was intended to address genuine national defense needs, not provide the federal government with unchecked authority to intervene on behalf of private companies. The lawmakers urged the Ninth Circuit to reverse the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction, arguing that the lower court failed to adequately scrutinize the Administration's national defense justification. The effort was led by Senators Whitehouse, Padilla, and Schiff, along with Congressman Carbajal. Sherman joined Senator Tammy Duckworth and ten other House Democrats in signing the brief. Read the full announcement and brief here . ### Issues : Energy Independence Protecting Our Environment