Washington, October 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US Vice President JD Vance has announced plans to expand the Delek oil refinery in Tyler, Texas, under the Defense Production Act, linking the move to fuel affordability, job creation and the Trump administration’s energy policy as Republicans campaign ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Addressing a rally in support of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, Vance said the administration had invoked the Cold War-era law to facilitate the refinery’s expansion, which is expected to increase supplies of commercial-grade and military-specification fuel.
“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 said.
“We want millions of gallons of commercial grade and military spec fuel to come out of this refinery in addition to what it’s already producing,” he added.
Vance said the project would create hundreds of well-paying jobs in Smith County and help reduce fuel and travel expenses for families. However, he did not disclose the estimated investment or the proposed increase in refining capacity.
The Tyler facility, owned by Delek US Holdings, processes approximately 74,000 barrels of oil per day.
The announcement comes as energy prices remain a major concern for American households and a central issue in the midterm campaign. In April, President Donald Trump signed a determination under the Defense Production Act declaring domestic petroleum production, refining and logistics capacity essential to national defence.
Vance used the refinery announcement to reinforce his campaign message for Paxton, the Texas Attorney General seeking a seat in the US Senate against Democratic candidate James Talarico.
Praising Paxton, Vance described him as a politician who delivers results and said his election would help sustain the administration’s energy agenda.
He also criticised Talarico’s position on the oil and gas industry, citing the Democratic candidate’s reported comparison of Texas energy dominance to leading the cassette-tape industry in the 1980s.
“If we elect Ken Paxton and we continue to support an energy dominance agenda ladies and gentlemen, Texas oil and gas jobs are going to be safe, and we’re going to build more of them,” Vance said.
The Vice President also attacked Talarico over border security and human-smuggling policy, alleging that the Democrat opposed a 10-year minimum sentence for human smugglers and supported policies that would leave the southern border vulnerable to drug cartels.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who is from Texas, attended the rally. Vance also briefly addressed a protester waving a Mexican flag near the stage, saying, “we’ll kick her out”.
The refinery expansion announcement underscores the administration’s effort to present domestic energy production as both a national security priority and an economic issue ahead of the November vote. Details regarding the project’s cost, timeline and additional processing capacity were not announced at the rally.
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