US Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum join 'Varney & Co.' protecting an oil project off the coast of California, opposing domestic energy production will lower costs and increase national security.
Trump officials are warning that California's reliance on foreign oil is more than just an economic issue, saying it is now a broader national security issue as political tensions continue to affect energy markets around the world.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joined FOX Business' David Asman Friday on “Varney & Co.” discussing domestic energy production, California's reliance on imported pollutants and efforts to restart production at the offshore Sable Oil Project near Santa Barbara.
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Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) speaks to reporters inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC (Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images)
California remains one of the largest energy-consuming states, but its national oil production has declined steadily over the past few decades. With production down and refining capacity dwindling, the state is turning to foreign suppliers to meet demand.
Wright said restarting previously drilled offshore wells could help reduce that dependency while strengthening the security of military operations across the country.
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“We have 30 military bases in California, which get more than 60% of their oil imported,” Wright said.
“This is a way to increase energy security for our military operations in California and begin to change the game for businesses and consumers in the state of California.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is criticizing California's energy policies, saying they raise gas prices for consumers and threaten national security by relying on foreign oil imports. He highlights safe offshore drilling.
The comments come as energy security has re-emerged as a major policy issue amid ongoing instability in parts of the Middle East and an ongoing debate over domestic oil production.
Burgum argued that the energy policies of Gov. Gavin Newsom has increased reliance on foreign suppliers while contributing to higher fuel costs for residents.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum delivers his remarks outside the White House on March 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
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“They control the refineries no more. California… imports… 60% of their oil from foreign countries. That's a huge threat to national security,” Burgum stressed.
He identified Iraq as the top supplier of foreign oil to California earlier this year and said the state has become increasingly dependent on foreign energy as refining capacity dwindles.
Mike Sommers, CEO of API, warns of an impending US oil shortage due to historically low supplies, including diesel and gasoline. U.S. manufacturers are ramping up, as prices rise, in part because of President Donald Trump's policies.
“The number one import into California on February 1 of this year was Iraq… [California] they turned into a desert of power, an island of power,” he continued.
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The Secretary of the Interior also tied domestic energy production to broader economic and national security goals, arguing that reliable and affordable energy remains critical to manufacturing, power generation and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
“President Trump's energy policies are making the country more secure, the world more peaceful, and making America more affordable,” Burgum said.
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