October 13th, 2026Heinrich Demands Answers on Trump Administration Draining Strategic Petroleum Reserves to Dangerous Low Levels

Heinrich: “I am deeply concerned by reports that recent drawdowns of the SPR could damage the salt caverns that hold millions of barrels of America’s emergency crude” WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, pressed U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright to disclose information on the operational safety and structural integrity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which has been depleted to under 300 million barrels of emergency inventory due to Trump’s war with Iran. Repeated drawdowns can harm salt caverns where millions of barrels of the SPR’s crude are stored, and the SPR’s current historically low levels put U.S. energy and economic security at grave risk. In the midst of further shocks, the U.S. will not have SPR capacity to spare which could cause gasoline and diesel prices to rise even further. The SPR was created in 1975 to reduce the impact of petroleum supply disruptions on Americans and is designed to hold nearly 714 million barrels, making it a valuable energy security measure and national security asset in times of crisis. The SPR currently holds 283.8 million barrels of emergency inventory — the lowest it’s been since 1982 — following Trump’s authorized release of 172 million barrels at the start of the Iran war. “In April, I wrote to you to express concern regarding the administration’s ill-advised decision to enter into a war with Iran. I asked you about the Department’s preparedness before the Trump administration launched its war in Iran, including if the Department conducted any analysis related to potential SPR releases. The Department failed to substantively respond to my questions,” Heinrich began. “I am deeply concerned by reports that recent drawdowns of the SPR could damage the salt caverns that hold millions of barrels of America’s emergency crude,” Heinrich continued. In his letter, Heinrich specifically demanded information on analyses and reviews conducted regarding the impact and consequences of drawing down the SPR. He also presses DOE to disclose a list of maintenance projects underway, schedule of exchange returns, copy of the contract for the new SPR Operator and all documents from the transition documenting the current state of SPR, all buyers and amounts sold from the SPR in 2026, potential new cavern sites analyzed by DOE for future development, backlog maintenance projects for SPR as currently pending, and the contract and all audits performed by the current DOE Auditor for the SPR and any sale of oil activities. “As our energy demand increases, we need to ensure the SPR is properly maintained, fully operational, and can be counted on when supply is constrained,” Heinrich concluded. Read the full text of the letter here and below: Secretary Wright: I write to request information regarding the operational safety and structural integrity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). In April, I wrote to you to express concern regarding the Administration’s ill-advised decision to enter into a war with Iran. I asked you about the Department’s preparedness before the Trump administration launched its war in Iran, including if the Department conducted any analysis related to potential SPR releases. The Department failed to substantively respond to my questions. I am deeply concerned by reports that recent drawdowns of the SPR could damage the salt caverns that hold millions of barrels of America’s emergency crude. In 1975, Congress created the SPR to reduce the impact of petroleum supply disruptions on Americans. The SPR is not only an energy security measure, but a national security asset in times of crisis. It is designed to hold nearly 714 million barrels. For the first time in over 40 years, however, the SPR has now reportedly dropped to under 300 million barrels of emergency inventory. In March, weeks after the U.S. entered into war with Iran, President Trump authorized the release of 172 million barrels from the SPR. As a result of that drawdown, the SPR currently sits at 283.8 million barrels—the lowest level since 1982. The SPR is expected to dip below 250 million barrels once the drawdown concludes. Some analysts have suggested that depleting the SPR to less than 300 million barrels risks damage to the salt caverns. In a June 2026 report, the Government Accountability Office found that “[r]epeated partial drawdowns followed by refill can leach a single part of a cavern repeatedly, leading to undesirable shapes.” The same report warned that the SPR is at risk of failing to safeguard the U.S. from severe petroleum supply disruptions. In response to the ongoing war in Iran and the consequences of draining vital energy inventories crucial to U.S. energy and national security, I am introducing legislation that mandates long-term planning for the SPR and limits non-emergency SPR sales to avoid further operational inefficiencies, including straining aging infrastructure during ongoing capital projects. To better understand DOE’s current management of the SPR, I request that you provide the following information by October 23, 2026: Since January 20, 2025, all Department analysis and reviews conducted to understand the impact and consequences of drawdowns of the SPR to the operational safety and structural integrity of the SPR. Since January 20, 2025, all Department analysis and reviews conducted to understand the impact and consequences of drawing down the SPR below 300 million barrels. Since January 20, 2025, all Department analysis and reviews conducted to understand the operational minimum of the SPR. A current and complete list of all major maintenance projects underway or scheduled over the next 10 years. A current and complete list and schedule of exchange returns, including premium barrels, as part of the March 2026 release. A copy of the new contract with the new SPR Operator and all documents on the handoff to the new contractor documenting the current state of the SPR and any related inspections at this time by either party. A list of all buyers and amounts sold from the SPR in 2026. A list of all potential new cavern sites analyzed by the DOE for future development. A list of the backlog of maintenance projects for the SPR as currently pending. A copy of the contract and all audits performed by the current DOE Auditor for the SPR and any sale of oil activities. Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. As our energy demand increases, we need to ensure the SPR is properly maintained, fully operational, and can be counted on when supply is constrained. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my staff at (202) 224-4971. Sincerely,