Shale production gives the country more flexibility. : The Trump administration says the U.S. no longer considers conserving oil economically important as President Donald Trump seeks to weaponize the country’s energy sector against Russia. The Department of Energy announced the policy shift in a memo in August, The Associated Press reported Sunday. The memo comes after the administration rolled back Obama-era fuel mileage standards — the statement also notes the shale boom poised to make the U.S. a top global oil producer.