Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and every Oversight Democrat demanded answers on any communication from the Trump Administration with major oil companies Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Continental Resources regarding the Trump Administration’s military action against Venezuela and the President’s plan to seize the country’s oil wealth. President Trump has a long partnership with big oil interests, and in 2024 reportedly promised favorable policies in exchange for $1 billion in campaign contributions.
“Donald Trump's unconstitutional military action in Venezuela, which he said was to seize oil, is dangerous and illegal. He lied and kept Congress in the dark about what he was doing. If he was working with big oil, the American people must know. He’s deceiving the American people, and we will not rest until we find out what the Administration has been telling these oil executives – before and after the military action in Venezuela,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “President Trump has put U.S. oil companies at the center of his escalating interventions in Venezuela. On January 3, 2026, just hours after the U.S. military operation capturing Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was carried out absent congressional authorization, President Trump stated that U.S. oil companies would “go in” to Venezuela “to take out money,” “take back the oil,” and be “reimbursed for what [you’re] doing.” He also stated that “we’re gonna have a presence in Venezuela as pertains to oil” and that “we’re gonna be taking out a tremendous amount wealth out of the ground.” Oversight Committee Democrats are investigating any corrupt motives for private or personal gain that may be driving the Trump Administration’s decision to put American lives at risk to seize control of a sovereign nation’s natural resources.”
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