The Trump administration intends to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase the processing capacity of a refinery in Texas (United States) operated by Delek US Holdings, according to US Vice President JD Vance. Enacted in 1950, the Defense Production Act grants the president extraordinary powers to compel domestic industries to prioritize certain activities in the interest of national defense. Trump has already invoked the legislation to support the development of oil production, pipelines, refineries, LNG export terminals, coal-fired power plants and other energy infrastructure.
Located in Tyler, Texas, the refinery currently processes approximately 74 kb/d. Its output includes gasoline, distillates, petroleum coke and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). US Vice President did not disclose the planned scale of the expansion or provide a timeline for the project.
The Delek announcement is the latest in a series of White House initiatives intended to curb fuel prices ahead of the November midterm elections, with affordability emerging as a major concern for voters. Most recently, Trump announced an agreement with Russia to import Russian diesel through 2027, with shipments of up to 3 Mt. Under the deal, the US Treasury Department suspended sanctions on Russian diesel exports until 7 April 2027, while keeping restrictions on other Russian products in place. The US Congress initially banned Russian energy imports in 2022. (KEI, 13/10/2026)
In the coming days, Trump is expected to issue a directive instructing administration officials to identify ways to circumvent state and local regulations that hinder energy production and to leverage the Defense Production Act to increase refining capacity (Reuters, 14/10/2026).