Energy sector leaders lashed out Tuesday at the White House’s attempt to blame them for skyrocketing gas prices.
During her daily briefing on Monday — a day when the price of a gallon of gas soared to an all-time high — White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked, “What is the president’s message to Americans who are going to the gas station today and seeing prices so high?”
She responded by saying, “The president’s message is that he’s going to do everything we can, everything he can to reduce the impact on the American people, including the price of gas at the tank.”
Psaki said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “created instability in the markets” but added, “Clearly, we will continue to have conversations with large oil producers and suppliers around the world about how to mitigate the impact and consider domestic options as well.”
She was then asked about increasing domestic production to reduce the pain at the pump. Her answer was that “federal policies are not limiting the supplies of oil and gas.”
However, Fox News’ Peter Doocy noted that President Joe Biden “signed an executive order his first week that halted new oil and gas leases on public lands.”
“Let me give you the facts here — and I know that can be inconvenient, but I think they’re important in this moment,” Psaki responded. “To the contrary, we have — we have been clear that in the short term, supply must keep up with the demand — we’re — we are — here and around the world, while we make the shift to secure a clear — clean energy future.
“We are one of the largest producers with a strong domestic oil and gas industry. We have actually produced more oil; it is at record numbers. And we will continue to produce more oil. There are 9,000 approved drilling permits that are not being used.
“So the suggestion that we are not let allowing companies to drill is inaccurate. The suggestion that that is what is hindering or preventing gas prices to come down is inaccurate.”
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