In an era where global superpowers vie for dominance, America’s geologic wealth, namely coal, natural gas, oil, and minerals essential for nuclear fuel, must be elevated from mere commodities subject to political whim to inviolable strategic assets, shielded from bureaucratic overreach that threatens our sovereignty and prosperity.

As of early 2026, the United States remains the world’s leading producer of oil and natural gas, with crude oil output averaging around 13.5 million barrels per day in recent forecasts and natural gas production setting records at over 107 billion cubic feet per day in 2025. This geologic dominance has reshaped global markets, lowered costs for American families and industries, and bolstered our national security. Yet, regulations, largely created for political purposes, aimed at phasing out these resources risk squandering this strategic American advantage, exposing us to foreign dependencies, particularly on China, which controls roughly 70% of rare earth mining and over 90% of refining for critical minerals.

Designating these geologic resources as critical national security interests is not just prudent; it is imperative. It would protect reliable energy for the general population, fuel manufacturing resurgence, empower our military, and ensure the U.S. economy remains hyper-competitive against adversaries who exploit like resources in other countries without similar political constraints.

These resources form the bedrock of American strength. Natural gas powers around 40% of U.S. electricity, big beautiful coal provides essential baseload reliability, with production seeing increases in 2025 amid rising demand, and oil drives transportation, petrochemicals, and manufacturing. Nuclear minerals underpin a necessary growing fleet of generation that supports stable, emissions-free power alongside these geologic fuels.

For the general population, domestic abundance translates to affordability and reliability. America’s shale revolution has made us a net energy exporter, stabilizing household energy bills even as global prices fluctuate. In contrast, nations overly reliant on intermittent sources or imports have faced crippling shortages and price spikes. By prioritizing these resources, we prevent blackouts and keep energy costs low, fostering economic stability for millions of American families.

In manufacturing, these assets are indispensable for hyper-competitiveness. Oil derivatives fuel plastics, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials; natural gas powers fertilizer production and steel mills; coal supports metallurgy. The oil and gas sector alone supports over 3 million jobs and contributes hundreds of billions to GDP through independent producers, with ripple effects adding trillions in economic output. Unrestricted access slashes compliance costs, enabling reshoring of industries from China, where state control allows unchecked extraction and lower prices. America’s energy edge has already revolutionized markets, protecting it ensures we outpace rivals in innovation, job creation, and exports.

The military’s reliance underscores the urgency. Geologic fuels power nearly all operational energy, from jet fuel for fighters to diesel for fleets, while nuclear minerals fuel certain vessels and ensure strategic deterrence. Supply disruptions would cripple logistics and projection of American power. Regulations phasing out domestic sources force vulnerability to suppliers from hostile nations. Securing these resources deters aggression and maintains America as an unbeatable force.

Overall, these geologic assets generate millions of jobs, trillions in revenue, and technological leadership, forming a resilient economy that outstrips competitors unburdened by self-imposed restrictions.

To safeguard them, actionable legal mechanisms exist. Congress should enact a “Strategic Geologic Resources Act,” modeled on the Defense Production Act, classifying coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear minerals as essential to national defense. This would preempt EPA moratoriums, expedite permitting, and provide incentives, preempting conflicting state rules with federal overrides.

Executive action offers swift pathways: Presidential directives invoking national security could temporarily override regulations, directing the Department of Energy to establish a protected registry exempt from lengthy reviews like NEPA. Judicial challenges under the commerce clause could strike down overreaches, while trade agreements counter foreign dominance in minerals.

Public-private partnerships can amplify these efforts, framing protection as countering China’s resource aggression.

America’s geologic treasures, coal, natural gas, oil, and minerals for nuclear fuel, must be elevated to irreplaceable strategic assets, free from the shackles of misguided regulations that undermine our strength.

By securing them, we guarantee prosperity for American families, resurgence in industry, unmatched military might, and economic dominance for generations. This is a patriotic imperative: Unleash our God-given bounties to forge an unbreakable America, energy-rich, industrially supreme, and eternally secure. Our rivals fear it; history demands it.