Ranking Member Markey: Record-High Gas and Diesel Prices Due to Trump’s Illegal Iran War Are “Crushing” American Families, Main Street
New data: 200 days into Trump’s illegal Iran war, average American family faces yearly fuel cost increase of more than $1,400, diesel prices surpass $6 per gallon for the first time in U.S. history
(Washington, September 17) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today highlighted new data that shows the crushing cost of Trump’s illegal Iran war for American families, workers, and small businesses. 200 days after Trump launched his reckless Iran war, Americans continue to pay the price at the pump as gas and diesel prices surge to record highs. The average American family faces an average annual increase of more than $1,400 in fuel costs, as the average price of a gallon of gas is nearly $1.50 higher than before Trump’s war began. For the first time in U.S. history, diesel prices surged to more than $6 per gallon, crushing Main Street and everyday Americans that are already paying the price for Trump’s disastrous policies.
“American families, workers, and small businesses are getting crushed as Trump’s boondoggle in Iran drags on and on, with no end in sight,” said Ranking Member Markey. “American servicemembers are paying the ultimate price abroad as Americans at home are struggling to afford gas, groceries, and healthcare—all while Trump drives up costs across the board, builds gilded ballrooms, and enriches his family and CEO billionaire friends at the expense of the American people. It is well past time for Trump to put an end to his illegal war with Iran and put an end to the needless suffering he has caused the American people.”
Ranking Member Markey’s latest analysis underscores the astronomical costs that Trump’s illegal war is imposing on American families, workers, and small businesses:
- As of September 17, everyone who drives a gas-powered vehicle in the United States now faces an average annual increase of more than $700 in fuel costs per vehicle.
- The average American family with two cars stands to pay approximately $1,400 more for gas this year than it did before Trump’s illegal Iran war.
- Between gasoline and diesel costs, American households have paid an additional $108.6 billion since the escalation of Trump’s war in February 2026.
- During Trump’s first 15 months in office, the five largest oil companies—ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and BP—made more than $93 billion dollars in profits.
While Trump continues to double down on his administration’s reckless policies, Ranking Member Markey is fighting to deliver real relief for families, workers, and small businesses who are suffering the consequences of Trump’s reckless and illegal Iran war.
- In August, Ranking Member Markey released new data highlighting the cost of Trump’s Iran war and slammed the record profits reaped by the largest oil companies off the backs of everyday Americans.
- In June, Ranking Member Markey introduced the Gas Money Saved Act, which would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to examine whether it can strengthen Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards during periods of skyrocketing gas prices to lower costs for American drivers.
- In May, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson demanding that the FTC investigate big oil and gas companies for driving up costs at the pump for American families and small businesses.
- Earlier in May, Ranking Member Markey released updated data highlighting the cost of Trump’s Iran war.
- In April, Ranking Member Markey renewed his call for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to provide transparency on the economic impact of Trump’s illegal Iran war.
- Earlier in April, Ranking Member Markey released data on how Trump’s illegal Iran war is hurting American small businesses, families, and workers at the pump.
- In March, Ranking Member Markey sent letters to CEOs at five of the largest oil and gas companies demanding that big oil and gas companies do not award executives profits generated from rising oil prices during Trump’s illegal Iran war. Ranking Member Markey also cosponsored Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-R.I.) Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act, which would claw back Big Oil’s windfall profits while providing consumers with guaranteed relief.
- Also in March, Ranking Member Markey joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), to sound the alarm about big corporations possibly taking advantage of the escalating pricing environment to price gouge American consumers, pressing FTC Chair Ferguson to investigate any Iran war-related price gouging.
- Earlier in March, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to BLS demanding full transparency about the economic costs of Trump’s illegal Iran war and how the war will harm American consumers. He urged BLS to provide non-partisan and accurate evidence of the economic consequences of Trump’s illegal Iran war, regardless of political pressure from the Administration.
###
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
