US to Announce Measures to Boost Refinery Fuel Output, Energy Secretary Says

The U.S. government plans to announce new measures within days to help oil refiners increase fuel output, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The move is aimed at reining in high gasoline prices that have become a political risk for the Trump administration ahead of the November midterm elections.

White House Seeks to Ease Pump Prices

Speaking to reporters in Midland, Texas, on Monday, Secretary Wright stated he had met with refiners to discuss how the government could help them "further ramp up their throughput." He emphasized that increasing refinery production in the U.S. and globally was the key to lowering prices for consumers.

The announcement comes as American drivers face persistently high costs at the pump. The national average for regular gasoline is now $4.06 a gallon, an increase of nearly 30%, or more than $1 per gallon, from a year ago, according to data from the motorist group AAA.

Geopolitical and Market Context

The price surge is occurring amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has tightened global energy supplies. President Donald Trump has publicly linked the higher fuel costs to the conflict, telling supporters on Friday that paying "a tiny little bit more for your gasoline" was a necessary price to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

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Wright echoed this sentiment, stating that the president is "playing the long game" with Iran. He told Fox News that Iran "can’t export any oil right now" and that allied forces were escorting commercial ships through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Focus on Refinery Capacity

U.S. refiners are already operating at high rates, incentivized by strong profit margins from elevated fuel prices. However, Wright noted that some capacity remains offline elsewhere, stating, "we have refineries in the Middle East that are turned down."

This suggests the administration's forthcoming measures may involve a combination of domestic incentives and international diplomacy to bring more global refining capacity online and alleviate the supply constraints driving up energy costs.