New release of oil reserves will put U.S. supplies at 40-year low

CBS News
March 13, 2026
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2 min read

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The Bottom Line

New oil reserve release drops U.S. emergency supplies to 40-year low.

How This Affects You

Reduced emergency oil reserves leave America less protected against future gas price spikes.

AI Summary

The Trump administration announced another release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which will drop U.S. oil supplies to their lowest level in four decades. The release continues historic withdrawals from emergency reserves that began under the previous administration as a response to rising gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The depletion of strategic reserves to 40-year lows reduces America's buffer against future oil supply disruptions.

What's Being Done

The administration continues historic withdrawals from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

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