The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)—the nation’s emergency oil stockpile—faces growing risks due to aging infrastructure, repeated large oil releases, and the lack of a long-term strategy. Since 1985, more than 500 million barrels of oil have been released from the reserve, with nearly 70% of those releases occurring between 2014 and 2025. The 2022 emergency release following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine placed a significant strain on the system, while another major release began in 2026 in response to the war in Iran.
The report says the Department of Energy has made some upgrades, but maintenance has not kept pace with the reserve’s aging infrastructure, creating operational risks. GAO also found that Congress has not set a target size for the reserve, and DOE has not completed a long-term strategic plan since 2016, leaving key investment and policy decisions without clear direction.
GAO recommends that Congress require regular long-term planning for the SPR, consider limiting non-emergency oil sales, and establish a more stable funding mechanism for maintenance. It also recommends DOE reassess the reserve’s performance standards, incorporate lessons from recent emergency drawdowns, and provide Congress with a clearer picture of the funding needed to maintain the SPR.
