Washington, DC – President Trump shocked many of his own supporters this month when he doubled down on his defense of the H-1b visa program, insisting that American companies “need access to the best talent in the world.” For Texans, who’ve watched this program undercut the wages of their neighbors for decades, the remarks landed with a thud. Even more frustrating is that the loudest longtime champion of the H-1b system isn’t a Democrat at all, but Texas Senator John Cornyn—Congress’s most reliable ally to the outsourcing lobby and a consistent advocate for expanding H-1b allotments and giving good-paying American jobs to foreign workers.

The FY 2024 Labor Condition Application data, the mandatory filings companies submit before importing H-1b workers, tells a story very different from what the political class sells.

For years, the public has been told these visas fill “critical shortages.” The numbers show the opposite. According to federal LCA filings for FY 2024, employers sought more than 223,000 foreign workers in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector alone. That sector, known by its NAICS code 54, accounts for more than half of all H-1B activity in the United States. And when you drill down, it becomes clear that these are not exotic, rarefied roles requiring knowledge unavailable in the American labor pool. They are overwhelmingly standard computer jobs that tens of thousands of Americans are already trained to perform.

The data reveals that more than 90 percent of all H-1b roles in NAICS 54 are computer-related: software engineers, developers, data analysts, and project managers. The top job title, Software Engineer, accounted for 27,875 cases. Software Developer followed with over 20,000. Senior engineers, architects, data scientists, and business analysts rounded out the list.

These are not obscure specialties. They are the backbone of the modern American workforce. For decades, U.S. universities have produced more graduates in these fields than the market will absorb, leaving many Americans struggling to compete against corporations that prefer cheaper, visa-dependent workers.

Outside the tech sector, the top industries importing H-1b labor also contradict the “skills shortage” narrative. After Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, the next-largest sectors were Information; Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing; Finance and Insurance; Educational Services; Retail; Health Care and Social Assistance; and Materials Manufacturing.

These industries requested tens of thousands of foreign workers. The average salaries attached to these filings—ranging from $118,000 to well over $160,000 in many categories—show the financial motive at play. These are not low-wage jobs Americans refuse to do. They are well-paid jobs that companies would rather fill with workers who cannot negotiate, unionize, or threaten to leave without risking deportation.

In the number-one sector alone, the breakdown of job titles shatters any illusion that Americans “can’t” do this work. Corporations filed for 5,777 Senior Software Engineers, 3,323 Data Engineers, 3,093 mid-level Software Development Engineers, and more than a 1,000 DevOps professionals. Many of these positions mirror exactly the roles American workers have been laid off from in recent years, only to watch their own jobs filled by imported labor. Some have even been forced to train their replacements before being shown the door. Yet corporate lobbyists continue insisting that the domestic talent pool is insufficient.

The federal data paints a clear picture: the H-1B program is not filling shortages—it is creating them. And policymakers like Senator Cornyn have helped build this reality. Cornyn has spent years pushing expansions of the visa program, arguing that American competitiveness depends on foreign labor pipelines. His advocacy has aligned closely with the interests of multinational consulting firms and outsourcing giants, many of which are among the top H-1b filers each year. The H-1b program has become a subsidy for companies that want highly skilled labor without paying highly skilled wages.

That context makes the President’s recent remarks even more uncomfortable for voters who believed he would stand with American workers. Trump’s instinct has always been to support U.S. industry, but on this particular issue, industry has misled him. Corporations insist they need imported talent because they cannot find qualified Americans, but never mention that federal data contradicts them. They don’t mention that wages in many of these fields have stagnated even as demand supposedly soars. They don’t mention that the program legally allows companies to pay foreign workers below the median market wage.

The “why” is simple: companies want leverage. H-1b workers are tied to their employers. They cannot easily switch jobs, demand raises, or push back against exploitative conditions. American workers can—and do. The H-1b program shifts bargaining power away from citizens and toward multinational firms, and Congress has allowed this system to grow because corporate donors prefer it that way.

If President Trump truly wants to put American workers first, and Make America Great Again, this is the moment to look past the talking points and confront what the data reveals. And if John Cornyn wants to defend the Texas workforce he claims to represent, he could start by acknowledging that the H-1b program he championed is now a mechanism for replacing Americans, not empowering them. The numbers are in. The shortage isn’t talent. The shortage is honesty.

(The Center Square) – By Bethany Blankley, with analysis by Michael Pipkins

Texas once again leads the nation in job creation, shattering employment records in August, according to the latest data reported by The Center Square. The numbers reveal more than just raw job growth—they tell the story of a state whose economic engine continues to run on oil, gas, and energy innovation, even as Washington policies, global uncertainty, and environmental pressure threaten to slow it down.

At the center of this resilience is the Texas upstream oil and natural gas industry. After losing 1,400 jobs in July, the sector regained traction in August, adding 200 upstream jobs. While modest, that uptick pushed total upstream employment to 205,100. The numbers reflect an internal shift: 200 fewer oil and gas extraction jobs, but 400 more in oilfield services.

The Texas Oil & Gas Workers Association put those figures into perspective:

“Growth for this calendar year so far remains a positive 4,200 upstream jobs, and at 205,100 upstream jobs, compared to the same month in the prior year, August 2025 jobs were up by 2,000, or 1.0%.”

That 1% growth may seem small in isolation, but it is part of a longer arc showing how Texas continues to outperform national trends. The state’s energy workers are still earning some of the highest wages in the country, averaging $128,000 annually in 2024, even as other industries stagnate under inflationary pressures.

Understanding the Upstream Engine

The term “upstream” in oil and gas refers to the front end of the energy cycle—exploration, drilling, and extraction. In Texas, that means rigs in the Permian Basin, wells in the Eagle Ford Shale, and operators spread across the Panhandle.

What upstream doesn’t cover is equally important: refining, petrochemicals, pipelines, utilities, and oilfield equipment manufacturing. Those sectors—considered “midstream” and “downstream”—are vital, but they depend on the foundation upstream provides. Without upstream extraction, Texas would not be able to power its refineries, fill its pipelines, or support its vast export infrastructure.

In effect, upstream is the tip of the spear. Its performance signals the health of the entire Texas energy economy.

Resilience in a Time of Uncertainty

August’s rebound is notable precisely because it came after two straight months of job losses. In June and July, the sector shed a combined 2,000 jobs, reflecting global price volatility and forecasts of supply-demand imbalances.

Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), emphasized that August’s slight gains show the industry is adapting:

“The August employment gains are a welcome sign of the Texas oil and natural gas industry’s resilience. Despite forecasts of a supply and demand imbalance and persistent global uncertainties, companies are adapting to manage risk and continue delivering the reliable energy that powers modern life.”

Those “global uncertainties” are not small. OPEC+ production cuts, geopolitical conflicts, and regulatory bottlenecks in Washington all weigh on the sector. Add to that environmentalist pressure to “phase out fossil fuels,” and Texas operators face a landscape in which success is anything but guaranteed.

Yet, rather than retreat, Texas firms continue to innovate, hedge against risk, and deploy new technologies that make drilling safer and more efficient.

The Labor Market: Job Postings Surge

Employment data from the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) reveals just how hungry the market is for skilled labor.

In August, Texas posted 10,154 unique oil and gas job openings, compared to 8,853 in July. Of those, 3,806 were new postings. By contrast, Pennsylvania had fewer than 3,000 postings, California just over 2,500, Ohio 2,322, and Illinois 2,014.

Nationwide, nearly 60,000 job postings were listed across the oil and natural gas sector last month, including more than 20,000 new openings. Texas not only dominated the numbers but also the geography of opportunity. The top four cities for job postings—Houston, Midland, Dallas, and Odessa—were all in Texas.

Among the 19 industry subsectors TIPRO tracks, the most job listings came from Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations. Other leading subsectors included Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores, Petroleum Refineries, and Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas.

Ed Longanecker, TIPRO’s president, said the trends point toward continued growth:

“The Texas oil and natural gas industry remains vital for job creation, innovation, and energy security, with 2025 employment trends driven by a variety of dynamic factors. Federal policies, including faster permitting and expanded LNG export approvals, along with transformative investment in AI-driven data centers, will support increased export activity, creating high-paying jobs in midstream, gas-fired generation and export infrastructure in the coming years.”

Longanecker’s reference to AI-driven data centers highlights an underappreciated aspect of the energy story: the digital revolution runs on electricity, and that electricity still overwhelmingly comes from natural gas. Far from being “obsolete,” fossil fuels are powering the very technologies that environmentalists say will define the future.

Tax Revenue Surges with Production

Texas’ energy sector doesn’t just provide jobs—it fills the state’s coffers. In August, oil producers paid $445 million in oil production taxes, the highest level in six months. Natural gas producers paid $194 million in production taxes, representing a 143% increase over the year.

Those tax revenues flow into the state’s General Revenue Fund and the Economic Stabilization Fund—better known as the “Rainy Day Fund.” In practical terms, every barrel pumped in the Permian helps pay for Texas schools, roads, and infrastructure.

For a state that prides itself on low taxes and fiscal conservatism, the oil and gas sector’s tax contributions remain indispensable.

Texas vs. Washington: Competing Visions

While Texas celebrates job growth, Washington has charted a different course. The previous Biden administration had leaned heavily into green energy subsidies, EPA regulations, and restrictions on leasing federal lands for drilling. Critics argue that these policies undermine U.S. energy independence, making America more reliant on foreign sources.

Texas, by contrast, has doubled down on fossil fuels, while also investing in renewable energy where market conditions make sense. The result is a hybrid model that secures reliable baseload power while fostering innovation.

The data suggests Texans aren’t waiting for federal permission. They are drilling, producing, hiring, and exporting—driving both the state and national economy forward.

What It Means for Texans

For everyday Texans, the numbers translate into several realities:

• High-paying jobs: At an average salary of $128,000, upstream jobs remain a path to middle-class stability and upward mobility.
• Local prosperity: Towns like Midland and Odessa live and die by energy cycles. August’s rebound means more paychecks, more tax revenue, and stronger local economies.
• Energy security: The more Texas produces, the less America must import from unstable regimes abroad.
• Political leverage: With Texas leading in production and job creation, the state carries significant influence in national energy debates.

At the same time, challenges remain. Energy jobs are cyclical, tied to commodity prices. Inflation continues to eat into wages. And environmental policy battles show no sign of abating.

A Broader Economic Picture

Texas’ leadership in job creation isn’t confined to energy, but energy remains its backbone. The latest employment data proves that when oil and gas thrive, the broader Texas economy benefits.

As global markets shift and federal policies evolve, Texas will continue to chart its own path—balancing innovation with tradition, and resilience with risk.

The August rebound may look like a blip on a chart. In reality, it is a reminder that Texas’ economic future remains intertwined with the industry that put it on the map. Oil and gas are not relics of the past. They are the foundation of a modern, growing, and increasingly dynamic state.

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Attribution: Original reporting by Bethany Blankley of The Center Square. Additional analysis and commentary by Michael Pipkins.

Gov. Greg Abbott Signs HB 1056: Texas Lays Groundwork for Financial Sovereignty in Push Against Federal Overreach

Austin, TX – A new law that has received little attention from the mainstream media may prove to be one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in Texas history. Governor Greg Abbott quietly signed House Bill 1056 into law on June 20, 2025. The bill, championed by Rep. Mark Dorazio (R-San Antonio), authorizes the Texas State Comptroller to invest state funds in precious metals—including gold and silver—and even to receive payments in those metals.

While seemingly a narrow fiscal policy bill at first glance, HB 1056 could signal something far more significant: a calculated step toward insulating Texas from federal economic instability and laying the groundwork for financial independence. Some constitutional conservatives and proponents of the Texas sovereignty movement are hailing the bill as a landmark moment in the long march toward a truly sovereign Texas.

What HB 1056 Actually Does

HB 1056 permits the Texas Comptroller to accept gold or silver as payment for state services and taxes, and it explicitly empowers the Comptroller to invest state holdings in precious metals. Notably, the law allows the state to store and manage its bullion within the Texas Bullion Depository, a facility that has quietly grown in significance since its establishment in 2015.

Texas is the only U.S. state to operate its own bullion depository—a fact many in the media have dismissed or ignored. But for lawmakers and citizens who view Washington, D.C. as bloated, irresponsible, and even hostile to traditional American values, HB 1056 is not just about monetary diversification. It’s about survival.

Why This Matters: Sovereignty Through Sound Money

For decades, the U.S. dollar has been decoupled from any hard asset. Since President Nixon officially closed the gold window in 1971, the dollar has been backed only by the “full faith and credit” of the federal government—an increasingly unstable foundation, given Washington’s $34 trillion national debt, inflationary monetary policy, and a weaponized financial system.

HB 1056 offers Texas an escape hatch.

“Gold and silver are real money—Biblical money, Constitutional money,” said Rep. Dorazio during the bill’s floor debate. “If we want Texas to be resilient to federal mismanagement and abuse, we need to hold real assets that Washington can’t inflate away.”

Though Texas isn’t leaving the Union tomorrow, proponents of Texit or other sovereignty measures see HB 1056 as a concrete step toward de-risking the state’s financial position. By increasing its holdings in gold and silver, Texas shields itself from dollar devaluation, Fed monetary policy misfires, and potential banking instability. In short: the bill is a hedge against a system spiraling out of control.

Building a Financial Ark

For years, economists have warned that the Federal Reserve’s endless money-printing—whether through quantitative easing, pandemic bailouts, or more recently, Green New Deal-style stimulus—has created a massive bubble in the U.S. economy. Inflation continues to outpace wage growth. Americans are losing purchasing power at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, federal regulators have openly floated the idea of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which critics argue could usher in an Orwellian level of financial surveillance and control.

HB 1056 plants a Texas flag firmly against that tide.

By investing state wealth in hard assets, Texas is functionally building its own financial ark. This legislation, coupled with the infrastructure of the Texas Bullion Depository, positions the Lone Star State to establish an alternative monetary system if and when the U.S. dollar falters.

“If the federal government continues down its current path, there may come a time when Texans need to rely on something other than the dollar,” said Thomas R., an economic policy analyst and longtime advocate for decentralization. “Texas is preparing for that eventuality, and HB 1056 is one piece of that puzzle.”

Constitutional and Historical Foundation

The United States Constitution itself permits states to make gold and silver legal tender (Article I, Section 10). HB 1056 takes this principle off the parchment and applies it to the 21st century.

Texas, with its independent streak and unique legal status as a formerly sovereign republic, is well positioned to reclaim the concept of sound money. HB 1056 doesn’t just allow the use of precious metals; it institutionalizes it. Over time, this may lead to the formation of parallel financial systems within the state—systems not reliant on fiat currency or federal institutions.

This legislative direction also dovetails with other sovereignty-minded efforts in Texas. From border security initiatives where the state has challenged federal inaction, to legislative proposals pushing back on ESG mandates and federal overreach in education, the broader picture is emerging: Texas is charting a course that anticipates national instability.

A Path to Wealth and Independence

There’s a strong economic argument to be made for this new law as well. As the state moves more of its investments into hard assets, it not only reduces exposure to inflation, but also increases the potential for asset appreciation. Gold and silver have historically held or increased their value during times of economic uncertainty, war, and inflation—conditions that are increasingly becoming the norm.

By becoming a regional center for precious metal transactions and storage, Texas could attract a wave of capital, commerce, and innovation. The state is already home to energy wealth, agriculture, tech, and manufacturing. Now it’s laying the foundations to become a monetary safe haven as well.

Texans may soon be able to pay their property taxes in silver rounds or buy government services with bullion-backed accounts. This shift isn’t merely symbolic—it’s functional.

And should the federal government move toward implementing a CBDC that tracks, controls, or restricts spending based on political views or “carbon footprints,” Texas will have already created an off-ramp.

National Reaction: Silence or Skepticism

Unsurprisingly, national media outlets have ignored the passage of HB 1056, and few in D.C. are willing to engage the implications. But that silence may itself be telling.

“I think they’re hoping if they don’t talk about it, it won’t catch on,” said a former Treasury Department official who now consults on state-level finance issues. “But Texas isn’t alone. Other states are watching this closely—Utah, Wyoming, even Florida.”

The Quiet Revolution

HB 1056 wasn’t signed with fanfare. No parades. No press tour. No national interviews. But that may have been intentional.

Like so many of Texas’ most impactful political decisions, this law was signed quietly, methodically—another brick in the fortress being built around the Lone Star State’s autonomy.

“This is not secession,” said Rep. Dorazio. “This is preparation.”

The coming years may reveal whether that preparation was prophetic—or essential.