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Vice President Vance Announces Defense Production Act Use for Texas Refinery

5:04 PM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: Vice President JD Vance announced on Tuesday that the Trump administration had invoked the Defense Production Act to expand a refinery in Tyler, Texas, during a campaign event for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Vance made the announcement during a visit to Texas, where he was supporting Paxton in his close contest against Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.

The Defense Production Act, a federal law enacted in 1950, gives the US government powers to support the production and supply of goods essential to national defense.

Vance emphasized the importance of the refinery expansion, stating, 'We want millions of gallons of commercial grade and military spec fuel to come out of this refinery in addition to what it's already producing!'

The administration previously invoked the Defense Production Act this year to bolster the production of munitions amid concerns of a shortage due to fighting in the Middle East.

According to Vance, the expansion of the Delek refinery in Tyler, Texas, will help stabilize energy markets globally, which have been in chaos since the start of the Iran war.

Vance also highlighted the economic benefits of the refinery expansion, saying, 'What that means for you and your families is lower costs to fly from one place to another. It means lower costs to drive your car into work every single day. It means a more reliable energy supply, but also a stronger national defense, and it will also mean hundreds of good-paying new jobs.'

The specific implementation arrangements, the scale of the expansion, and the timeline for additional fuel production have not been fully detailed publicly.

Vance used the speech to attack Talarico, calling him 'a radical' and 'a wolf in sheep’s clothing,' and mocking him with the nickname 'Talafreako.'

According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States is above $4.34, with a gallon of diesel costing nearly $6.28.

The Trump administration has also turned to defense technology giant Anduril in a $6.6 billion effort to speed production of Virginia-class attack submarines.

Experts have noted that refineries are already operating at maximum capacity, and there is very little the administration can do to increase diesel fuel production from existing facilities.

The announcement comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over its handling of energy markets and national defense.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday announced that the administration had invoked the Defense Production Act to expand a refinery in Tyler, Texas, during a campaign stop on behalf of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
• "We want millions of gallons of commercial grade and military spec fuel to come out of this refinery in addition to what it's already producing!" Vance the announcement as the administration works to stabilize energy markets across the globe, which have been in chaos since the start of the Iran war.
• "I am pleased to announce that the Trump administration working with the refinery at Delek has used the Defense Production Act and we are gonna expand the refinery right here in Tyler, Texas," he said.
• 🚨 BREAKING: VP JD Vance announces President Trump is hereby invoking the DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT to BOLSTER a key fuel refinery in Texas and lower prices Another INCREDIBLE affordability move 👏🏻 "We want millions of gallons of commercial grade and military spec fuel to come out of this refinery in addition to what it's already producing!" 47 has now taken a flurry of actions to lower the price of fuel, diesel included, in recent days This is something Talarico would oppose because he wants to abolish fossil fuels!
• The Trump administration plans to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to support the expansion of a Texas refinery, Vice President JD Vance announced on Tuesday, October 13.
• However, the specific implementation arrangements, the scale of the expansion and the timeline for additional fuel production have not been fully detailed publicly.
• The Defense Production Act is a federal law that gives the US government powers to support the production and supply of goods considered essential to national defense.
• The administration has indicated that it will use the Act to support the expansion of the Delek refinery in Tyler, Texas.
• Vance used the speech to announce the Trump Administration had come to an agreement with Delek Refinery in Tyler for an expansion as part of the Defense Production Act.

What's still developing

• She examines the broader effort to expand American maritime capabilities and counter China’s influence in global shipping and naval industries on ‘Special Report.’ The Trump administration is turning to a defense technology giant in a $6.6 billion effort to speed production of submarines as the U.S. struggles to keep pace with China's vast shipbuilding capacity.
• The Trump administration is turning to defense technology giant Anduril in a $6.6 billion effort to speed production of Virginia-class attack submarines, bringing a Silicon Valley-style manufacturer into one of the Pentagon's most troubled industrial bases. (Colin Murty via Reuters) The investment takes aim at a problem the Navy has struggled for years to solve: shipyards are delivering roughly 1.3 Virginia-class submarines a year, well short of the Navy's goal of two, even as demand for the nuclear-powered attack boats grows.
• “Refineries that are currently in operation are already making as much diesel as they possibly can,” Lipow told The Hill last week.
• Trump amended his rhetoric on the deal slightly Tuesday morning before departing the White House, telling reporters that the Russian diesel is “being released into the world,” not “released to us.” The bulk of the vice president’s remarks were focused on attacking James Talarico, the Democratic nominee running against Paxton for Texas’s open Senate seat.
• On October 9, President Donald Trump announced that Russia had agreed to supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel fuel immediately, followed by another 500,000 metric tons in November and additional supplies thereafter.

Sources

• Justthenewslink
• Newslink
• Washingtonexaminerlink
• Kltvlink
• Fox Newslink
• Ktrelink
• WarpBeat — background on Vice President Vance Announces Defense Production Act Use for Texas Refinery link
• WarpBeat — background on Trump Admin Moves To Strip Citizenship From 40 Foreign-Born Americans link
• Wikipedia — background on Defense Production Act of 1950 link
• The Washington Examiner — video link