Firstly, let me get this out of the way, I proudly voted for Donald Trump to be the 47th President of the United States and firmly believe that his leadership is a vast improvement over the previous administration. Yet I find myself asking when does “Drill Baby Drill” start? While I support many of the administration’s broader goals, especially the emphasis on American energy dominance, there’s a fundamental contradiction in the idea that the United States should be energy independent, yet gasoline and crude oil prices should stay low. For many in the oil and gas industry, this contradiction is not just theoretical, it’s a real and growing challenge that directly affects our ability to stay in business.

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The idea of energy independence is simple in theory: the United States should produce enough of its own oil and natural gas to avoid relying on imports, thereby securing our economy and national security. It’s a vision many of us in the industry support and work toward daily. However, true independence doesn’t come cheap. Domestic drilling, production, and refining require substantial investment, skilled labor, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience. And with inflation, supply chain constraints, and increasing costs across the board, the price tag for this independence has only gone up. This is where the problem lies. President Trump, both during his first term and in campaign rhetoric since, has been a vocal advocate for low gasoline and oil prices. While this may be politically popular with consumers, it runs counter to the economics of domestic energy production. When prices are kept artificially low, or when the government pressures producers to “do their part” to keep them down, it squeezes the very people working to make America energy independent in the first place.

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This is especially evident in Eastern Kansas where producers are already struggling with rising labor costs, stricter environmental regulations, and volatile markets. Adding political pressure to keep oil prices down only makes it more difficult for us to survive. At a time when we should be incentivizing domestic production to compete globally and build long-term energy security, we’re being asked to take the hit so consumers can pay less at the pump. This isn’t just an issue for small operators, larger producers are affected too. But the burden falls hardest on those without the deep pockets to absorb additional strain. The result is fewer rigs running, less investment in infrastructure, and ultimately, a weakened domestic industry that is more vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, the very thing energy independence is supposed to prevent.

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I understand the political value of low gas prices. I understand that President Trump wanted to win votes and ease the economic burden on everyday Americans. But as someone working in the oil and gas industry, I also see the long-term danger of policies that prioritize short-term savings over long-term security. We can’t have it both ways. If we truly want to be energy independent, we must allow market prices to reflect the true cost of domestic production, and that means accepting that sometimes prices will need to rise. This isn’t a call for government handouts or protectionism. It’s a call for honesty and consistency. If energy independence is the goal, then the industry needs the space and the support to pursue that goal profitably. Otherwise, we’re just setting ourselves up for failure, again. I still support Donald Trump. I still believe he is the better choice for our country’s future. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be critical when policies don’t line up with reality. We need leadership that recognizes the complexity of energy markets and supports a path forward that rewards American producers, not punishes them in the name of popularity.

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Energy independence is a worthy goal. Let’s not undermine it with contradictory messaging and misplaced pressure. Let’s get serious about what it really takes to power this country the American way.

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On a lighter note, I want to encourage everyone to register for the 68th Annual EKOGA Meeting, if you haven’t already, taking place September 10–11 at the Prairie Band Casino & Resort in Mayetta, Kansas. We’ll be kicking things off with a round of golf at the beautiful Firekeeper Golf Course.  We’ve also put together a strong lineup of speakers for our informative sessions, and we’re working hard to make the trade show more engaging and valuable than ever before. It’s shaping up to be a great event, and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone there.