Vance invokes Defense Production Act to expand Tyler, Texas oil refinery
Synopsis
VP JD Vance used a Texas campaign rally to announce the Trump administration's invocation of the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to expand a 74,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Tyler — wrapping an industrial policy move in midterm politics just three weeks before voters head to the polls.
Key Takeaways
VP JD Vance announced on 14 October that the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to expand the Delek US Holdings refinery in Tyler, Texas .
The refinery currently processes 74,000 barrels a day ; no cost or new capacity figures were disclosed.
Vance promised hundreds of new jobs in Smith County and lower fuel costs for families.
The announcement was made at a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton , three weeks before the 3 November midterm elections .
President Donald Trump signed the original Defense Production Act energy determination in April , declaring domestic petroleum refining essential to national defence.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also attended the rally; Vance accused Democrat opponent James Talarico of hostility to the oil and gas industry.
US Vice President JD Vance on 14 October announced that the Trump administration had invoked the Defense Production Act to expand the Delek US Holdings oil refinery in Tyler, Texas, pledging hundreds of new jobs and lower fuel costs — a campaign-trail announcement made just three weeks before the 3 November midterm elections. The declaration came as Vance rallied support for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, who faces Democrat James Talarico.
What Was Announced
'Today, I am pleased to announce that the Trump administration working with the refinery at Delek has used the Defense Production Act, and we are going to expand the refinery right here in Tyler, Texas,' Vance told the rally crowd. He added that the expansion would produce 'millions of gallons of commercial grade and military spec fuel' beyond the facility's current output.
The Tyler refinery currently processes about 74,000 barrels a day. Vance did not disclose the cost of the expansion or the planned increase in production capacity. He said the move would 'mean hundreds of good paying new jobs' in Smith County and would reduce fuel and travel costs for households.
The Legal Basis: Defense Production Act
The Cold War-era Defense Production Act grants the executive branch broad powers to direct industrial output in the interest of national security. In April, President Donald Trump signed a formal determination under the Act declaring domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity essential to national defence. The Tyler refinery expansion is part of a broader pattern of the administration using the law to back energy projects, with high fuel prices weighing on household budgets ahead of the elections.
The Political Context
Vance used the announcement as a platform to boost Paxton's Senate bid, describing him as someone who 'fights for you every single day' and 'gets things done.' He trained his fire on Talarico, accusing the Democrat of 'contempt' for the oil and gas industry. Vance cited remarks attributed to Talarico comparing Texas energy dominance to 'being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s' and alleged that Talarico had suggested refinery jobs 'aren't going to last.'
Vance also attacked Talarico on immigration, alleging he had opposed a ten-year minimum sentence for human smugglers and wanted the southern border to have 'a giant welcome mat for the drug cartels.' Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, a Texan, attended the rally. Vance briefly called out a protester waving a Mexican flag near the stage, saying 'we'll kick her out.'
What Comes Next
Energy prices have emerged as a central issue in the midterm campaign. The Trump administration's use of emergency industrial law to underpin refinery expansion marks an escalation in its energy-dominance messaging. With the 3 November vote approaching, the Texas Senate race between Paxton and Talarico will be one to watch as a bellwether for how voters weigh energy policy against broader economic concerns.
Point of View
Leaving the announcement more as a signal to energy-sector voters than a verifiable policy commitment. Notably, the rally setting and the explicit pivot to boosting Ken Paxton's Senate campaign raises questions about how cleanly the administration is separating executive action from electioneering. With energy prices a live midterm issue and the Texas Senate race competitive, the timing is unlikely to be coincidental.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Defense Production Act and why is it being used for a Texas refinery?
The Defense Production Act is a Cold War-era US federal law that allows the executive branch to direct industrial production for national security purposes. The Trump administration invoked it after President Donald Trump signed a determination in April declaring domestic petroleum refining essential to national defence, and is now using that authority to expand the Delek US Holdings refinery in Tyler, Texas.
How big is the Delek refinery in Tyler, Texas?
The Tyler refinery, owned by Delek US Holdings, currently processes about 74,000 barrels of oil per day. VP Vance did not disclose the planned increase in capacity or the cost of the expansion announced on 14 October.
What jobs and economic benefits did Vance promise from the expansion?
Vance said the expansion would create hundreds of new, well-paying jobs in Smith County, Texas, and would lower fuel and travel costs for families. He offered no specific job numbers or timeline.
Who is Ken Paxton and what is his connection to the announcement?
Ken Paxton is the Texas Attorney General and the Republican Senate candidate Vance was campaigning for at the Tyler rally. Paxton is running against Democrat James Talarico in the 3 November midterm election, and Vance used the refinery announcement as a centrepiece of his pitch for Paxton's election.
How has the Trump administration used the Defense Production Act on energy before?
In April, President Trump signed a formal determination under the Defense Production Act declaring domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity essential to national defence. The Tyler refinery expansion is part of a broader effort by the administration to invoke the law in support of energy projects amid high fuel prices ahead of the midterms.
