In an effort to undo more of Biden administration’s policies, House Republicans have introduced a $1.3 billion proposal to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve—a move that also clarifies the current administration’s pivot toward fossil fuel over green spending.
The bill, led by Rep. Brett Guthrie, earmarks $1.32 billion for replenishing the reserve and an additional $218 million for maintenance and repairs. Crucially, it repeals the drawdown mandate that triggered the largest SPR release in US history under former President Joe Biden, who authorized a draw of over 180 million barrels starting in 2021 to ease record-high gasoline prices.
“The bill would also begin refilling the dangerously low Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” Guthrie quoted in The Wall Street Journal, adding that it would claw back “green boondoggle” funds such as environmental justice block grants.
The legislation also proposes redirecting $6.5 billion in unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate provisions back into energy security—an explicit rebuke of Biden’s energy transition priorities.
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“This bill would reverse the most reckless parts of the engorged climate spending,” Guthrie asserted.
The SPR currently holds just 399 million barrels—near its lowest level since the 1980s, as visualized in DOE data. Inventories were depleted sharply during Biden’s tenure, with critics alleging the drawdowns were timed for political optics before midterm elections. President Donald Trump, whose energy policies the bill echoes, has vowed to rapidly refill the SPR if re-elected.
“They put it all out because they thought they could keep gasoline prices down a little bit… just go past the election,” Trump said earlier this year.
While the Biden administration claims the SPR release helped cut gas prices by up to 40 cents per gallon in 2022, charts from AAA and WTI markets show prices rebounding in early 2025 before beginning to decline again in May—indicating market volatility continues despite intervention.
Energy analysts warn that without adequate reserves, the US is exposed to severe supply shocks.
WTI crude remains below $65 per barrel, making current prices potentially advantageous for SPR refills.
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