Op-Ed: Rep. August Pfluger: The RSC provided a blueprint to reality for President Trump's first 100 days
America is witnessing the dawn of a conservative renaissance that will reshape our nation for generations to come thanks to President Donald Trump's triumphant first 100 days in office. At the heart of this historic moment stands the Republican Study Committee (RSC) — Congress's conservative conscience and policy engine — which is working tirelessly to transform bold executive vision into lasting legislative reality.
For over five decades, the RSC has served as the guardian of conservative principles in the House of Representatives. What began as a small caucus has turned into an unprecedented force of 189 members — over 85 percent of the House Republican Conference. This record-breaking membership has restored the committee as the premiere powerhouse for enacting conservative change, perfectly positioned to maximize our Republican trifecta and deliver transformative results for the American people.
Today, we stand at an extraordinary moment in history. With President Trump in the White House and Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, conservatives have been entrusted with a mandate that comes perhaps once in a generation. The American people have spoken clearly: they want transformative change that restores American greatness, secures our borders, unleashes our economic potential, and reestablishes our standing on the world stage.
In these crucial first 100 days, the RSC has mobilized immediately to support and amplify President Trump's America First agenda. Our committee serves as both shield and sword — reinforcing the administration's bold executive actions while advancing legislation that will cement these victories into permanent law. In fact, we're approaching 100 RSC Member bills aimed specifically at codifying the President's executive orders — 100 days, 100 bills, 100 years of lasting impact.
Border security stands as perhaps the most dramatic testament to the Trump administration's effectiveness. The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Under the Biden administration, an average of 15,000 illegal aliens poured across the United States border each day. This is in stark contrast to the latest 24-hour period under the Trump administration: only 178 illegal crossings. Border crossings have plunged to their lowest levels in decades, with March data showing the most secure border in recent history. Operational control — once a distant goal — is becoming reality.
This didn't happen by accident. President Trump appointed Tom Homan as Border Czar with a clear mandate that resonates with both would-be crossers and American citizens alike: "We will prosecute you, you will go to jail, and then we will deport you." The message is clear, the policy is working, and America is safer for it. Now the RSC is fighting to codify these successful border security measures through legislation like the REMAIN in Mexico Act and End Unaccountable Amnesty Act, ensuring they remain permanent fixtures of American policy.
Nowhere is our commitment to lasting change more evident than in our work to restore American energy dominance. When Joe Biden entered office, he immediately froze energy leasing, imposed a radical "whole-of-government" climate agenda, and implemented the most restrictive anti-energy regulations in American history. Now, President Trump and House Republicans are reversing course — unleashing American energy production, cutting burdensome regulations, and embracing our mantra, especially in energy-rich regions like West Texas: "Drill, baby, drill!!" The RSC is fighting to codify these energy independence initiatives that will power American prosperity for decades to come.
This comprehensive effort to codify President Trump's executive orders springs from our understanding of what's at stake — what isn't enshrined in legislation can be undone with the stroke of a pen by future administrations. The REMAIN in Mexico Act, the Dismantle DEI Act, and our energy independence legislation demonstrate our commitment to transforming temporary executive action into enduring legislative achievement.
But our work doesn't end here. The House and Senate must meet the moment with resolve and urgency. The American people didn't send Republicans to Washington to play small-ball politics or surrender to procedural roadblocks. They sent us here to deliver results. Every day that vital legislation languishes in the Senate is another day that President Trump's transformative agenda remains vulnerable.
The RSC is re-establishing itself as the premiere conservative policy engine, arming House Republicans and the Trump administration with battle-tested legislative solutions. We're using our platform as a bullhorn for all of our members, amplifying their incredible legislative work and proving that conservative unity leads to conservative victory.
By working to enshrine President Trump's legacy in permanent law, we're ensuring his achievements aren't built on shifting sands but carved into the enduring bedrock of American governance. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the urgency couldn't be clearer.
This is our moment — to restore America's greatness, rebuild our foundations, and reclaim our rightful place in the world. With President Trump's bold leadership, the RSC's conservative principles, and the unified Republican Congress, we will secure America's promise for generations to come. The first 100 days have set the foundation, the next 100 days will build the framework, and the next 100 years will showcase the lasting legacy of conservative governance done right.
Rep. August Pfluger represents Texas's 11th District. He is the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) and sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.