American families filling up their tanks this week felt the sting of nearly $4 per gallon gasoline, the highest national average since 2022, with diesel prices skyrocketing 40% to an eye-watering $5.37 per gallon. The cause is no mystery: the ongoing war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a quarter of the world’s oil must pass. While the Biden years taught us to accept energy pain as the new normal, President Trump is taking immediate action to provide relief at the pump while the military operation continues.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it will waive federal restrictions to allow nationwide sale of E15 gasoline, a blend containing 15% ethanol, beginning May 1 and lasting through at least May 20 with the possibility of extension. Currently, E15 sales are banned during summer months across much of the country due to air pollution concerns. The administration is also removing what EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called “all federal impediments” on E10 gasoline sales. These emergency measures represent exactly the kind of decisive action Americans expect from leadership during a crisis.
“EPA is working with our federal partners to reduce unnecessary costs and uncertainty and ensure that gas prices remain affordable for all Americans through the summer,” Zeldin stated. “President Trump has prioritized ensuring American families have an affordable domestic energy supply.” This stands in stark contrast to the previous administration, which seemed to view high gas prices as a feature rather than a bug, a necessary sacrifice in service of their green energy agenda.
The economic impact of the Iran conflict extends far beyond American gas stations. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, spiked to nearly $120 per barrel in recent weeks after sitting comfortably between $60 and $70 for most of 2025. While prices have moderated somewhat to around $98 per barrel as of Wednesday, the volatility underscores how quickly global markets can be disrupted when critical shipping lanes become war zones. The Iranian regime’s attacks on commercial vessels have created a chokepoint that reverberates through every economy on earth.
President Trump has been characteristically direct about the trade-offs involved. In the early days of the Iran operation, he acknowledged that Americans would feel some pain at the pump but maintained that the mission was “far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.” This is leadership that tells the truth rather than making promises that cannot be kept. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced this message on March 10, stating, “The recent increase in oil and gas prices is temporary. And this operation will result in lower gas prices in the long-term.”
There is reason to believe this assessment is correct. America’s allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan, have signaled their willingness to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz. International cooperation on this scale suggests that the disruption, while serious, will not be permanent. Once the Iranian threat to shipping is neutralized, markets should stabilize and prices should retreat from their current elevated levels.
In the meantime, the Trump administration’s regulatory relief provides immediate, tangible benefits for American consumers. E15 gasoline is typically cheaper than conventional blends, and allowing its sale nationwide during the summer driving season will increase supply and competition at the pump. This is the kind of practical, market-oriented solution that prioritizes American families over bureaucratic red tape.
The contrast with the previous administration could not be clearer. When gas prices spiked under Biden, Americans were told to buy electric vehicles they couldn’t afford or simply accept that fossil fuels were on their way out. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was drained for political purposes rather than genuine emergencies. Every crisis became an opportunity to push an agenda rather than solve a problem. President Trump approaches these challenges differently, seeking immediate relief while addressing root causes.
Some will inevitably criticize the EPA’s decision, arguing that environmental regulations should not be waived even temporarily. But the American people understand that during times of war and economic disruption, flexibility is necessary. The temporary nature of these waivers, designed to last through the peak of the summer driving season, demonstrates appropriate restraint. This is not a permanent rollback of environmental standards but an emergency measure to help working families make ends meet.
The Iran conflict has tested American resolve and exposed vulnerabilities in global energy markets. But it has also demonstrated the benefits of having leadership that understands energy policy, respects market forces, and prioritizes the economic wellbeing of ordinary citizens. President Trump promised energy dominance, and while the current situation presents challenges, his administration’s response shows that commitment remains intact. American energy policy should serve American interests first, and that is exactly what these emergency measures accomplish.
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