Texas Congressman August Pfluger on National Security, Energy Independence, and Conservative Reform

Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), is navigating the complexities of Washington with a steady hand rooted in his military background and deep ties to West Texas. A former Air Force fighter pilot, Pfluger is leveraging his unique perspective on national security, energy, and economic policy to lead the largest conservative caucus in Congress. 

Representing Texas’s 11th Congressional District, which spans the energy-rich Permian Basin, Pfluger sees energy policy as essential to America’s global strength. “Energy security is national security,” he said. “If we can’t secure our energy needs, we’re vulnerable on the global stage.” 

Pfluger has long been an advocate for domestic energy production, criticizing what he sees as excessive regulations from the Biden administration. He points to the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil fields in the world, as a prime example of how America can lead globally if allowed to develop its natural resources. 

“We have the resources. We should be using them,” Pfluger said, emphasizing the need for affordable, reliable energy to support rising demand driven by technologies like artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. 

As chairman of the RSC, Pfluger is focused on conservative priorities that he believes will strengthen America over the long term. Key among them is extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), set to expire in 2025. Pfluger argues that the tax cuts, which helped stimulate job creation and wage growth, are crucial for economic stability, particularly for small businesses in rural areas like his district. 

“If these tax cuts expire, it’s a tax hike on working Americans,” Pfluger said. “Businesses need predictability to plan and grow. Reversing the TCJA would undermine that.” 

Pfluger also rejected the notion that the TCJA only benefited the wealthy. “It’s not just about the wealthy,” he said. “These tax cuts empowered working families, small business owners, and job creators across the country.” 

Under his leadership, the RSC has adopted a more proactive approach. Pfluger emphasized that the group is working behind the scenes to influence key policies early in the process through weekly meetings, task forces, and coordination with committee chairs and federal officials. “We’re pushing leadership on timing and substance,” he explained. “Early action on tax policy is critical.” 

But for Pfluger, the issues of energy, taxes, and fiscal discipline are all connected by a single overarching goal: ensuring America’s future security and competitiveness. 

“There’s no room for failure,” he said. “The choices we make now will determine whether we unlock America’s potential, or squander it.”