U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

04/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2026 14:42

Ranking Member Markey Demands Transparency from Trump Administration on Impact of Trump’s Illegal War on Iran

American small businesses and families face 40% spike at the pump due to Trump's illegal war on Iran

Letter (PDF)

(Washington, April 17) - Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today wrote to Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) William Wiatrowski to once again demand transparency from BLS on the economic impact of Trump's illegal war on Iran. The new letter follows Ranking Member Markey's March letter to BLS, which received no response.

Trump's affordability crisis is hurting American small businesses and families. In addition to bearing the burden of Trump's tariff taxes, rising electricity bills, and cuts to health care, Americans are facing skyrocketing costs at the pump, with small businesses, workers, and families now standing to pay more than $540 more for gasoline per vehicle this year due to Trump's illegal war on Iran. Rising fuel costs and disruptions to fertilizer supply chains are also causing prices to rise throughout the economy-from baggage fees to groceries. In his letter, Ranking Member Markey urges Acting Commissioner Wiatrowski to provide nonpartisan data and analysis outlining the full impact of Trump's illegal war across all sectors of the American economy, regardless of political pressure from the Administration.

Ranking Member Markey wrote, "Increased transportation costs affect virtually every facet of the supply chains our economy relies on. And yet, we have yet to hear any concrete plan from the Administration regarding an end to the conflict, a solution to alleviate these costs, or any attempt at providing relief for Americans."

Ranking Member Markey continued, "Understandably, Americans remain skeptical that President Trump has a plan of any kind. They cannot afford to fly blind, as Trump apparently elects to. Facing thousands of dollars in higher prices for gasoline, groceries, and utilities-not to mention the hundreds of billions of their taxpayer money that Trump is requesting to pay for the war itself-American families and small businesses must budget and plan for the future. BLS must put forward consumer price projections that reflect the disastrous consequences of Trump's illegal war."

Ranking Member Markey requested answers to the following questions by May 1, 2026:

  1. Please provide updated projections for consumer price changes in the energy sector - including gasoline, home heating fuel, and electricity - over the next six to twelve months.
  2. Please provide updated projections for consumer food price changes over the next six to twelve months, taking into account higher energy and transportation costs, disruptions to fertilizer supply chains linked to elevated natural gas prices, and any anticipated import or export disruptions.
  3. Please provide updated projections for consumer prices for goods more broadly - including household products, apparel, and durable goods - given anticipated supply chain disruptions, increased shipping costs, and higher energy input costs.
  4. Please provide the methodology BLS is using to model the consumer price impacts of geopolitical energy supply disruptions.

Ranking Member Markey is fighting to deliver real relief for small businesses, workers, and families who are suffering the consequences of Trump's reckless and illegal war on Iran.

  • Last week, Ranking Member Markey released new data on how Trump's illegal war on Iran 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 war in Iran.
  • Earlier in March, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to BLS demanding full transparency about the economic costs of Trump's illegal war with Iran 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 war in Iran, regardless of political pressure from the Administration. BLS has not responded to the letter.
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