Fuel prices ignite debate in Congress: what can Washington really do?

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers in Washington are trading blame with officials from President Donald Trump’s administration as fuel prices keep climbing since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. reached $4.36 on Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to AAA — up from a $4.22 average a week earlier and $3.16 a year ago. The average diesel price was $6.31 per gallon.

Oil prices have risen sharply on the continued escalation of the war between the United States and Iran: futures for Brent crude, the international benchmark, reached about $106 per barrel on Wednesday, while U.S. WTI traded around $103 a barrel.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, warned that gasoline and diesel prices are expected to keep rising: “We could set a new 2026 record for the national average gasoline price by the weekend,” he wrote, adding that diesel could touch $6.50 per gallon within 48 hours.

Democrats in Congress have sharply criticized the Trump administration over high prices: at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Maxine Waters said “Americans and small businesses feel the pain of your reckless economic policy. They’re paying outrageous prices for meat, gas, electronics and nearly everything around the kitchen table.” Brad Sherman added: “The war has raised gas prices and raised interest rates. Last year I asked the administration to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. They didn’t. As a result, we couldn’t respond as effectively to the Strait of Hormuz problem.” Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent directly: “Since the start of the war, gas prices have risen 52%. Yes or no, are you aware?” “I don’t think that’s a good number,” Bessent replied, adding that prices are nevertheless “lower than during the Biden administration.”

Trump had earlier tried to lower prices with 25 “Freedom Fuel” stations in July ($3.47 per gallon), but they were concentrated in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and had little impact; he also pressured retailers and has pushed lawmakers to approve sales of higher-ethanol-blend gasoline. Analyst De Haan warned prices will stay high as long as the Middle East conflict lasts. The U.S. average ranged from $3.75 in Indiana to $6.04 in California.

Source: USA Today