California Blocked an Oil Pipeline in Santa Barbara. Trump Forced It Open.

California blocked an oil pipeline in Santa Barbara. Trump forced it open, describing a policy reversal that reignited local opposition and legal action. The article says California and federal officials long halted new offshore drilling along the coast to protect shoreline areas, but in March the Trump administration ordered the reopening of a Santa Barbara pipeline dormant since 2015 after a major spill. The pipeline, owned by Texas-based Sable, initially ruptured in 2015 due to corrosion and opponents argue it remains vulnerable to another break. Backlash has included lawsuits from environmental groups and California officials, while residents warn the region overlooks rich offshore oil reserves. The conflict is framed as a collision between the administration’s push for increased domestic production and Santa Barbara’s coastal identity and environmental protections, roughly 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles.