Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who is at the helm of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has voiced concerns about the storage of Navy fuel in the Indo-Pacific region. The Congressman's apprehensions stem from an escalation in aggression by the Chinese military in this area, which poses a heightened threat to Taiwan.
In a letter addressed to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Gallagher outlined his worries. These include issues related to how fuel for U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific is stored and distributed, as well as perceived inadequacies with the fleet of tankers tasked with transporting fuel. Furthermore, Gallagher sought information regarding plans to build "safe underground fuel storage facilities for the Indo-Pacific" and whether there are intentions to acquire additional fuel tanker ships, according to a press release from the Select Committee on the CCP.
Gallagher drew attention to the closure of Red Hill, a facility located in Oahu, Hawaii that was established in the early 1940s and had been used for storing 104 million gallons of Navy fuel. Following a leak from this facility into Pearl Harbor's drinking water supply and subsequent illnesses reported in 2021, the Department of Defense ordered all fuel to be removed and Red Hill to be closed down. As per an article from Honolulu Civil Beat, December saw 5 million gallons of fuel being removed from Red Hill in what marked the eighth and final shipment.
The Congressman's letter contained several pointed questions aimed at gaining clarity on future plans. These included: "What plans do you have to build new hardened underground fuel storage facilities in the Indo-Pacific theater?" "Do we currently have enough secure forward fuel storage facilities and access to refinery capacity to support operations in the Indo-Pacific?" "Does your plan to redistribute fuel from Red Hill include using afloat tankers?" "Do you plan to expand the number of ships participating in the Tanker Security Program?" Gallagher requested a prompt response, as per the letter.
Gallagher, who currently represents Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, is campaigning for re-election to the U.S. House. He holds a degree in international relations and affairs and served seven years of active duty in the Marine Corps, departing in 2013 with the rank of captain. During his tenure, he was involved in counterintelligence work and was part of the Central Command (CENTCOM) assessment team during deployment, according to Ballotpedia.
