If Congress allows permitting reform to stall again, the United States will inevitably face higher energy costs, weaker energy reliability, and reduced geopolitical influence. Washington favors strong language and superlatives about resilience, competitiveness, energy dominance, and winning the future. But for all that rhetoric, policymakers don’t seem to feel the urgency of a major weakness at home.

That weakness centers on knowingly enabling paralysis. Each time geopolitical tensions flare, Washington suddenly is reminded that energy security remains important. Lawmakers issue urgent warnings. Experts quickly explain the fragility of global supply chains, power grids, and fuel routes. Then the moment passes, and the system that makes it painfully difficult to build remains untouched. America is not building enough anymore.