U.S. Oil Reserve Created for Supply Disruptions, Not Strictly Military Use

Quick Take

The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve was set up as an emergency source of oil to keep supplies flowing in the event of unexpected disruptions. It’s not just designed “for when we get attacked and need the fuel to keep our Air Force in the air,” as social media posts falsely claim.

Full Story

President Joe Biden announced on Nov. 23 that the Department of Energy would release 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, “to lower prices for Americans and address the mismatch between demand exiting the pandemic and supply.” 

Responding to Biden’s action, conservative commentator Jesse Kelly falsely claimed in a tweet that same day that the SPR was intended strictly for military purposes, not to meet market demand.

“PRO TIP: The strategic oil reserve is for when we get attacked and need the fuel to keep our , read. “It’s so your cities and towns don’t get bombed into powder. With you and your family in them. It’s not for when you get some bad poll numbers about high gas prices.”