White House discussed using Defense Production Act to expand U.S. refining capacity: report

The White House is considering how it might use the Defense Production Act to expand U.S. oil refining capacity. 

The proposal came up during a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and a dozen U.S. refiners, where they discussed the ways in which the federal government could support increased refining capacity, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources. 

No final decisions were made, and there was an expectation that the discussion would continue in the future, according to Reuter's sources. 

The refining executives told Trump and other officials at the meeting that federal money would be better directed at making refineries more efficient and expanding existing plants rather than building new facilities, which is costly and takes years to complete, the sources said. 

The Defense Production Act gives the president broad powers to direct industrial resources and provide financial incentives for companies to expand production of materials deemed important to national defense.