Trump should declare an energy emergency on day one

OPINION:

President-elect Donald Trump has his hands full cleaning up the mess left behind by the Biden administration, but atop his day one to-do list should be declaring an “energy emergency.”

In the last four years, energy poverty has become a national crisis. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, over 52 million American adults have been unable to fully pay their energy bills over the past year. More than 87 million Americans report difficulty affording basic household expenses.

These numbers are not abstract statistics — they represent families shivering in cold homes, parents unable to fill their gas tanks and communities stretched to their breaking point. Relief is urgently needed, and waiting is not an option.

Declaring an energy emergency would give Mr. Trump the tools to act immediately, cutting through bureaucratic red tape that stifled domestic energy production. Just as Mr. Trump invoked the Defense Production Act in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to expedite the production of lifesaving ventilators, this emergency declaration would allow him to unleash the full potential of American energy.

A bold and decisive emergency declaration should include:

• Suspending the federal gasoline tax of 18 cents per gallon for at least six months, providing immediate financial relief to drivers struggling with high fuel costs. Democrats proposed suspending it in 2022, but their green base stopped them.

• Refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to safeguard against future crises and stabilize market prices. Under the Biden administration, it has been cut nearly in half.

• Fast-tracking pending drilling permits ensures that new oil and natural gas projects can begin operations immediately.

• Greenlighting critical infrastructure projects such as pipelines and roads to expand energy transportation and reduce bottlenecks.

• Halting all administration legal proceedings that hinder energy production, and enable companies to operate without fear of politically motivated lawsuits.

• Pausing enforcement of Biden-era electric vehicle regulations, which disproportionately burden lower-income Americans, until they can be fully repealed.

These actions would restore balance to America’s energy market, making energy more affordable and accessible.

The Biden administration, under pressure from the eco-left, has prioritized green policies over the basic needs of Americans. President Biden himself flirted with declaring a “climate emergency,” further underscoring his administration’s detachment from reality. More recently, one administration official even described their frantic green spending of taxpayer dollars as akin to “throwing gold bars off the edge” of the Titanic.

While Americans face skyrocketing energy bills and harsh winter conditions, the Biden administration is funneling over $6 billion to a struggling electric vehicle company. These misplaced priorities speak volumes about the administration’s indifference to the plight of ordinary Americans.

Consider the state of the economy when Mr. Biden took office. In January 2021, the average cost of gasoline was $2.42 per gallon. Since then, prices have climbed, never dipping below $3 per gallon. This increase reflects market fluctuations and a deliberate policy agenda that has hamstrung American energy producers while favoring foreign imports and green-tech experiments. Families have endured nearly four years of failed energy policy and cannot afford to wait any longer for relief.

Mr. Trump would send a clear message by declaring an energy emergency: America is returning to a pro-energy, pro-worker agenda. This declaration would empower the country to harness its abundant resources — oil, natural gas and coal — while reducing dependence on foreign energy and restoring affordability to American households.

Critics may claim that such measures prioritize short-term relief over long-term sustainability. That argument ignores the fundamental principle of good governance: addressing the urgent needs of the people. When families cannot pay their bills or children go to bed cold, immediate action is not just justified — it’s imperative.

The Biden administration’s green agenda has failed, leaving millions of Americans in the cold — literally and figuratively. On day one, Mr. Trump must declare an energy emergency to ensure families get the help they need without delay.

The stakes are too high, and the suffering is too widespread. America’s families deserve affordable energy, economic security and a government prioritizing their well-being. Mr. Trump is uniquely positioned to deliver all three.

• Larry Behrens is the communications director for Power the Future. He has appeared on Fox News, ZeroHedge and Newsmax TV speaking in defense of American energy workers. Follow him on X @larrybehrens.