Energy Dept. Marks Trump-Era Production Gains in Midland Visit

On Monday, August 17, 2026, Energy Secretary Wright will travel to Midland, Texas to celebrate the "Great American Energy Comeback" and to underscore the administration's claim that President Trump's energy agenda has positioned the United States as the world leader in oil and natural gas production.

The fact sheet notes that in 2025 the United States produced 13.6 million barrels of oil per day and a total of 24 million barrels per day of oil and other liquid fuels, outpacing Russia and Saudi Arabia combined. That same year natural-gas output reached a record 118.5 billion cubic feet per day, with a 2026 projection of 122.5 bcf/d, equaling the combined production of Russia, Iran and China.

President Trump's first-day directive to end the previous administration's LNG export ban is highlighted as a catalyst for growth. Since January 2025 the Energy Department has approved roughly 22.3 bcf/d in non-FTA LNG export authorizations, a volume exceeding the entire U.S. export capacity at the start of the Trump administration, and exports are projected to nearly double by the end of the decade.

Permian Basin output is presented as a core driver of the resurgence. Crude production in the basin rose about 250% from roughly 1.9 million barrels per day in 2015 to a record 6.6 million barrels per day in 2025. December 2025 figures show 6.7 million barrels per day, representing 44% of national oil output, and 22.2 bcf/d of marketed gas, more than one-fifth of U.S. gas supply.

Local economic impact is emphasized: Midland's population has grown 11% since 2020, the fastest rate among West Texas cities, and the city's mining, quarrying, and oil-and-gas extraction employment share exceeds the national average by more than 72 times. Texas upstream oil and gas employment rose by 4,100 jobs through May 2026, marking a third consecutive month of increase.