Annie Comes Home: Take Action: No taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil’s cash grab in Venezuela

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Take Action: No taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil’s cash grab in Venezuela

Pamela: After bombing Caracas, capturing then-Venezuelan President Maduro, and announcing intentions to "get the oil flowing," it's becoming increasingly clear that Trump is preparing to "run" Venezuela's internal affairs while extracting its resources under threat of future violence.

It's a plan as ill-conceived as it is dangerous — and it's already becoming clear U.S. taxpayers are likely to be left holding the check.

While Secretary of State Rubio initially claimed that their plan for Venezuela's oil is "not going to cost us anything," experts estimate that building up Venezuelan oil infrastructure could cost $115 BILLION.[1] Now, Trump is suggesting that taxpayers' dollars could be used to reimburse oil companies for the "tremendous amount of money" required to invest in Venezuela.

While prices skyrocket at home, taxpayers must NOT be on the hook for oil companies in Trump's lawless plan to pillage Venezuela's oil. Fortunately, Rep. Mike Levin and Sen. Jeff Merkley just introduced legislation to prevent that from happening — and we need everyone in Congress to add their urgent support.

We demand funding for healthcare, not war for oil, and we need to come out in full force immediately to ensure Congress rejects the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize oil companies by passing this legislation. Tell your elected officials: No taxpayer dollars for Big Oil!

ACT NOW

Trump's grand plan to "get the oil flowing" is already showing cracks, Pamela.

One of the United States' largest oil producers, ExxonMobil, called Venezuela's oil industry "uninvestible" and expressed skepticism over the administration's plans after meeting with the White House last week.

It's horribly clear that Trump's making up this lawless operation as he goes, but that's not stopping him from pitching a $100 BILLION plan to Big Oil — and using your tax dollars as collateral.

Venezuela's future should belong to its people, NOT Trump or U.S. oil companies. Venezuelans have endured years of repression and economic collapse. The last thing anyone needs is an oil pillaging scheme, let alone one bought and paid for by the U.S. taxpayer.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what could happen unless Congress works to ensure Trump can't use our tax dollars to extract oil from Venezuela. Senator Merkley put it plainly: "I think every American can think of a lot of issues, including health care, housing, and American infrastructure, where that money can be a hell of a lot better spent."

If you're one of them, join us to get lawmakers' attention by speaking out with a voice that's tens of thousands of people strong.

Will you send your members of Congress a message today? Taxpayers CANNOT subsidize Trump's oil grab in Venezuela.

Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team