Staff Reports
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has pulled back the curtain on what every working American felt in their wallet: the previous administration’s chokehold on domestic energy wasn’t accident — it was policy. During his confirmation testimony he accused the Biden administration of failing to hold required lease sales and letting legal obligations and permit requests languish, a dereliction that shut down American opportunity and handed leverage to foreign producers.
That inaction wasn’t abstract; it translated into fewer decisions, delayed permits, and a self-inflicted supply squeeze that raised prices for families who commute to work and businesses that keep payrolls moving. Conservatives have argued for years that courts and common sense both show the federal government was not following statutory requirements on leasing and permitting, and Burgum made that case plainly under oath.
The new Interior team is moving fast to reverse that damage, streamlining rules and coordinating with Agriculture to cut duplicative reviews so Americans can get back to producing what the world needs from American soil. Those changes are already aimed at clearing backlogs, speeding applications to drill, and making it easier for producers to responsibly develop resources that keep energy prices stable and create jobs.
And let’s be clear about results: when Americans drill here, the country benefits — royalties and bonuses flow back to states, local communities, and the federal treasury instead of to adversaries or empty rhetoric. Fiscal reports show billions in onshore oil and gas revenues and robust disbursements in fiscal 2025, proof that energy development isn’t a subsidy for corporations but a revenue engine for school districts, roads, and veterans’ services.
Some in the elite media and environmental pressure groups will howl that this is reckless, but hardworking patriots know the truth: energy independence and legal, orderly leasing on public lands protect our economy and our security. Burgum’s blunt charge that previous officials “did not follow the law” and his push to unlock American resources is exactly the kind of no-nonsense leadership this country needs to put money back in the pockets of families and rebuild our strategic strength.
The choice is simple for voters and lawmakers who care about prosperity: keep pushing policies that accelerate responsible American energy production, hold officials accountable when they ignore statutory duty, and reward commonsense stewardship that turns our natural resources into real benefits for everyday Americans. The Administration and Secretary Burgum are showing the way — it’s time for patriots to back them and make sure the United States stays energy-rich and free.
