Congress had mandated that. And the gasoline from the northeast reserve was never intended for long-term storage. That’s what the strategic petroleum reserve is for. Gasoline has a limited shelf life.

https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-biden-northeast-reserve-6fa669ef3c963d212852513e4b312060

…a mandate from Congress to sell off the 10-year-old Northeast reserve and then close it.