Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is making the case that her agency — often overlooked outside the Lone Star State — sits at the center of three pillars of American prosperity: energy security, food security, and national defense.
In an op-ed published by Breitbart, Buckingham, a physician and Republican elected official, framed the GLO’s work as the “Texas Engine” that helps fuel, feed, and fortify the nation. The piece comes as the agency steps up its involvement in rare earth mineral production, border security efforts, and a massive coastal protection project.
Energy: ‘Energy security is national security’
Buckingham opened by arguing that a nation that cannot fuel itself is vulnerable. Texas, she noted, leads the country in oil and natural gas production, refining capacity, and a growing set of emerging energy technologies. Revenue from energy production on state lands helps fund Texas public education while powering homes, farms, and manufacturers nationwide.
“Every barrel produced domestically is one less barrel that must come from unstable regions or strategic competitors,” she wrote, echoing a common refrain among energy advocates.
The GLO manages more than 13 million acres of state land and mineral interests, along with 3,400 miles of shoreline. That portfolio, Buckingham argued, gives the agency a direct hand in energy policy.
She highlighted the GLO’s partnership with USA Rare Earth and the Trump administration to break China’s dominance over rare earth magnets, which control more than 90% of global production. Those minerals are critical for everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
“These efforts help ensure that future generations inherit an energy system that is competitive, resilient, and capable of meeting growing demand,” Buckingham wrote.
Food: Land stewardship meets agriculture
Buckingham pivoted to food security, arguing that questions about affordable food are often treated as agricultural issues but are really land and resource issues. Farmers and ranchers depend on affordable energy for equipment, water for crops and livestock, and infrastructure to move goods across the country.
Texas leads the U.S. in cattle inventory and beef production, and the GLO leases land for grazing and farming, with the proceeds going to public education.
“A nation that can feed itself is stronger, more stable, and better prepared to withstand disruptions at home and abroad,” she wrote.
Fortification: Border and coastal defense
The final pillar Buckingham addressed is national security, which she framed as extending well beyond the military. That includes the border, infrastructure, supply chains, domestic energy production, and cybersecurity.
Texas, she noted, is home to critical energy infrastructure, major ports, transportation corridors, and most of the southern border. The GLO has worked with state and federal partners to support law enforcement on state-owned land along the border, including efforts against cartel activity and human trafficking.
She also touted the Coastal Texas Project, which she described as the largest infrastructure project ever conceived. The plan, developed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, combines storm surge barriers with beach restoration along the state’s entire coastline. The Gulf Coast, Buckingham argued, is one of America’s most significant energy and trade hubs, making its fortification vital.
Agency’s full portfolio
The GLO, founded in 1837, is the oldest state agency in Texas. In addition to land management, it runs disaster recovery programs, operates the Alamo, oversees the Veterans Land Board, and manages assets that generate billions for the Permanent School Fund.
Buckingham, who took office in 2023, has been a vocal advocate for expanding the GLO’s role in border security and critical minerals. Her op-ed serves as a kind of mission statement for the agency, tying its everyday land management duties to broader national priorities.
“The challenges facing our country may evolve, but the foundations of prosperity remain the same: dependable energy, secure food systems, and the infrastructure and resources to protect both,” she concluded.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/border/2026/08/31/op-ed-dawn-buckingham-the-texas-engine-fueling-feeding-and-fortifying-america/