California has filed suit to block a federal order directing Sable Offshore Corp. to restart the oil pipeline system serving the offshore Santa Ynez Unit. The suit escalates a legal dispute over the Trump administration’s use of emergency powers to override state energy and environmental controls.
The complaint challenges the March 13, 2026 order issued under the Defense Production Act (DPA). The state argues the order exceeds federal authority and seeks to halt its implementation.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the directive “unlawfully purports to supersede state law, state court orders, and a federal court-approved Consent Decree” to allow Sable to restart the pipeline.
The federal order, issued by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, cites national security concerns and relies on President Donald Trump’s January 20, 2025 executive order declaring an energy emergency. Wright said the order would “address supply disruption risks caused by California policies that have left the region and U.S. military forces dependent on foreign oil.”
California’s complaint argues the DPA does not authorize the federal government to override state environmental laws, judicial orders, or permitting requirements. It also contends that the statute does not permit the Department of Energy to compel private companies to enter into commercial arrangements with other private entities.
The state further raises constitutional claims, arguing the order improperly attempts to override state court rulings and a 2020 consent decree requiring state regulatory approval before operations can resume. The filing also alleges a violation of state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment, noting that a four-mile stretch of the pipeline crosses Gaviota State Park.
The lawsuit follows a separate challenge to actions by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in which California disputed the agency’s assertion of federal jurisdiction over the Las Flores Pipeline System. That case, filed in January 2026, also challenges PHMSA’s approval of Sable’s restart plan and its issuance of an emergency special permit that waives certain safety rules.