White House interest in reopening closed oil refineries reported as gasoline prices stay elevated

The Trump administration is weighing steps to reopen closed oil refineries in the United States, including a facility on St. Croix, the White House official said in an email to The Hill. The report comes as drivers face elevated gasoline prices, which the outlet linked to disruptions in global oil markets tied to the Iran war.

According to The Hill, the White House official said the administration “would like to see refineries across the country reopen, especially the St. Croix …” refinery. The report describes the St. Croix facility as embattled and tied to the territory’s supply and pricing dynamics, though it does not identify a specific policy vehicle or a timeline for any reopening.

No White House or Federal Register action confirming a formal executive step or specific regulatory change related to refinery reopening appears in the materials provided for this story. As a result, this article describes what was reported by The Hill and the practical implications discussed in that reporting, without stating that any executive order, proclamation, or memorandum has been issued.

A refinery reopening effort would typically intersect with federal and local permitting, environmental compliance, and safety requirements, but The Hill’s account focuses on the administration’s expressed interest rather than detailing the specific constraints or approvals under which a closed refinery could restart production. The report does not, in the materials provided here, cite an agency directive, rulemaking docket, or a concrete enforcement or grant program tied to refinery restarts.

The Hill also attributes the pressure on gasoline prices to global market conditions associated with the Iran war. If prices remain elevated, White House interest in increasing domestic refining capacity could become a recurring policy focus, particularly where closed refineries affect regional supply and where transportation and storage bottlenecks can intensify price spikes.

The report’s emphasis on “across the country” reflects a national framing, but the inclusion of St. Croix points to a U.S. territory dimension. Restarting a refinery in a territory could shift how refined product is sourced for local distribution, which can affect wholesale costs and downstream retail pricing, though The Hill does not provide figures in the supplied materials.

The next confirmed checkpoints for an administration-led effort, if one develops, would be any published executive action, any related agency notices and rulemaking references in the Federal Register, or a direct announcement from the relevant Department of Energy and/or environmental regulators describing a specific program, permitting path, or compliance timeline. Until such documents are identified, the matter remains a reported interest rather than a confirmed policy decision.