Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that California’s insufficient in-state energy production could create national security vulnerabilities as the Trump administration works to reduce the state’s reliance on foreign oil imports.
Wright criticized California’s energy policies, particularly under Governor Gavin Newsom, for transforming what was once an energy-dominant state into an ‘energy-starved island’ by outsourcing oil and gas imports from countries like Iraq and Brazil, despite having developable resources within the state’s borders.
Speaking to FOX Business correspondent Kelly Saberi, Wright emphasized that President Trump’s concerns about California’s energy security for military operations in the state are well-founded, noting that the state should be supplying assets across the Pacific Ocean rather than importing energy from overseas.
The Energy Secretary characterized California’s high energy prices as a ‘political choice’ rather than a necessity, accusing state leadership of undermining the state’s historical position as a leading energy producer. He noted that California was once among the top three oil-producing states in the nation when he began working in the industry 30 years ago.
Wright pointed out that California currently has the highest gasoline prices in the country, with regular gasoline averaging $5.93 per gallon as of early 2026, a situation exacerbated by geopolitical tensions affecting global energy markets.
He questioned why California citizens should pay more than 50% higher gasoline prices and nearly double the electricity prices compared to national averages when the state possesses substantial natural resources capable of supporting domestic energy production.
The Trump administration remains open to collaborating with California leaders who recognize the threats to national security, the national economy, and Californian citizens posed by current energy policies, according to Wright.
However, Newsom’s office rejected Wright’s proposals, characterizing them as an attempt to ‘drag America back to the Stone Age’ and expressing concern that pursuing such policies would subject Americans to health impacts including asthma, toxic exposure, and black lung disease from fossil fuel reliance.
For this story, generative AI was utilized as a research aid, with editorial verification of all AI-generated content prior to publication.