Chuck Schumer Demands Trump Tap Oil Reserve After Previously Blocking Effort to Refill It
David Lindfield
March 9, 2026 - 2:01 pm
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is demanding that President Donald Trump release oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as global energy prices surge.
However, the call comes after Schumer fiercely opposed Trump’s effort to replenish the reserve when oil prices were far lower.
In an apparent U-turn, Schumer is now urging the administration to release barrels from the emergency stockpile as oil prices spike amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Schumer Pushes for SPR Release
In a statement, Schumer argued that the reserve exists specifically to respond to global crises affecting energy markets.
“When wars and global crises disrupt energy markets, the United States has the ability to act, but President Trump and his administration are refusing to do so,” Schumer said.
https://slaynews.com/news/chuck-schumer-demands-trump-tap-oil-reserve-blocking-effort-refill-it/