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Posted on 03/27/2026 4:06:35 PM PDT by Angelino97
California sued the Trump administration Monday to block what it says is an unprecedented power grab: using emergency authority to force the restart of an offshore oil operation shut down more than a decade ago.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, argues a March 13 order by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright oversteps his authority under the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law.
“No matter how much President Trump may claim there’s a so-called national energy emergency — it’s just not true,” Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters. “The U.S. already produces significantly more oil and gas than we use — it’s a completely fabricated claim intended to curry favor with the oil industry.”
The legal fight pits the Trump administration and Sable Offshore Corp. against California officials and environmental groups – and comes as fuel prices jump in the wake of the Iran conflict. Sable, which bought the system from ExxonMobil in 2024, has told investors that production could increase from about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to more than 50,000 if it restarts, sending oil to refineries in Los Angeles, Bakersfield and the Bay Area.
California argues the emergency powers law is meant to prioritize contracts during emergencies — not to override state law or force a pipeline restart. The state says the administration failed to meet the law’s basic requirements, including showing an actual energy shortage.
Wright’s order marked the most aggressive federal intervention yet in a yearslong dispute. A March 3 legal opinion from the U.S. Justice Department had laid the groundwork, concluding that the emergency order could preempt state law — and even override a 2020 federal consent decree requiring approval from the California State Fire Marshal before the pipeline can restart.
Environmental groups and experts have argued that forcing the pipeline back into production would not lower gasoline prices but would put coastal wildlife at risk and set a troubling precedent for federal power over state law. The Trump administration has long sought to expand offshore oil leasing along the West Coast, which has drawn fierce opposition in California.
Sable is facing mounting legal pressure on multiple fronts. In December, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ruled that the infrastructure qualifies as an interstate pipeline and issued an emergency permit approving a restart plan — a move environmental groups and the state of California challenged. That case is pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In February, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge ordered the pipeline to remain shut down, ruling that earlier federal intervention was not enough to override an injunction requiring Sable to obtain state approvals before restarting.
Representatives for Sable, the Energy Department and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
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At least California is admitting this is deliberate.
This is an issue that I actually know quite a bit about. Years ago, I was told by petroleum engineer in California that at any time if the state approved, they could open valves and flow millions of barrels of oil into California. But, he said, the environmentalists will not let them do it because they claim it would contaminate the beaches. The truth? Before California had oil wells off their coast the beaches were covered with clumps of oil from the natural seepage that occurs. As soon as the drilling rigs relieved the pressure, the beaches became pristine.
I’m sure that many people are now surprised that all that must happen for oil to flow into America is in order from the president. I’m not surprised at all.
California Attorney General is full of cr**... He can’t tell the President what to do...
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s name and photo should be displayed at all gas stations with his lies as prices near 6 to 7 dollars per gallon.
TO ALL: There is this thingy called a “Freepathon” going on. Let us ALL get this over with.
THEIR PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO A LOCATION NEAR BAKERSFIELD-—HOW IS THAT INTERSTATE?
I guess you’re okay with this lawfare?
During the FDR administration, the Supreme Court ruled that if a family farmer grows food solely for local consumption, that impacts interstate commerce, because it means the local buyers might buy less food from outside the state.
During the Civil Rights Era, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could outlaw racial segregation in local diners, because the diners purchased sugar from outside the state, so desegregation was related to regulating interstate commerce.
The Interstate Commerce Clause has long been a blank check for the government to do whatever it wants.
You guess that based on what?
California’s boundary doesn’t extend out into the Pacific. They think they have leverage because of a pipeline that comes ashore. I’d love to see oil tankers pulling up to off shore rigs and filling up within sight of the shore as well as gas flares at night.
Then one minor spill near Santa Barbara and they shut them down.
I lived in the Ojai area. Had to drive through the oil pumpers to get to Ventura.
They looked like those birds that drank from a glass bobbing up and down.
Couldn’t see that one coming, could we?
Federally authorized energy leases to private companies on federal offshore geography is out of the jurisdiction of state governments.
Ignore the courts.
Bonta is a jerk, misleading the public. Why does California import oil and gas, leading to ultra-high prices? Because he is not allowing production of oil here in California! Sure, the U.S.A. produces a lot of oil, but it can't easily reach California. If not produced here in California, it comes overseas from outside our country.
The California DemonKKKrats are going to make sure that oil is not used to lower oil prices and sabotage America’s effort against Iran. Once again, the DemonKKKarats prove they are enemies to America.
Bonta knows the local media whores will still blame Trump and the idiot Californian voters will believe it and vote for more.
I guarantee there is a court “decision” already written if the two republicans win the jungle primary.
Commifornia owns mineral rights out to 3.5 miles from shoreline.
This is true.
My folks went to the beaches when they were kids, and I grew up hearing about how much nicer things were not having to worry about “tar balls” (actually heavy crude) littering the beaches after strong tides such as a storm might produce.
It isn’t called “Coal Oil Point” for nothing; I’ve scoured enough of the stuff of my feet! Drill baby drill!
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