Vasquez Condemns USPS Decision to Pass Cost Increases Caused by Iran War Onto Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On March 26, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)sent a letterto Postmaster General David Steiner rejecting the United States Postal Service's (USPS) proposal to impose a temporary "fuel surcharge" on consumers, passing the cost of the Administration's reckless war in Iran and spiking gas prices on to Americans.

"For decades, USPS has been the most affordable and reliable mail delivery option for Americans. Seniors, rural residents, veterans, and working families disproportionately depend on the USPS for essential functions like paying bills, receiving medications, filing taxes, and accessing critical government benefits," wrote Vasquez. "This fuel surcharge is the latest example of how this Administration and USPS's mismanagement threatens to leave these Americans and rural communities without essential, affordable services."

"Your decision to raise costs on American families is harmful and will continue to make their budgets even tighter," continued Vasquez."No one is denying that fuel costs have gone up because of the Administration's decision to go to war in Iran, but passing those costs directly onto American families, many of whom are already paying more at the pump and for everyday goods, is unacceptable."

Read the full letter here.

In addition to demanding answers and accountability around spiking prices, Rep. Vasquez has been outspoken against the Administration's unauthorized war in Iran.

• Rep. Vasquez voted in support of the Iran War Powers Resolution to curb the Administration's unilateral military actions in Iran without Congressional approval.
• Rep. Vasquez cosponsored a bill to ban federal officials from trading on prediction markets after reports raised concern over Administration officials profiting off the Iran war.
• Rep. Vasquez has also raised concerns over the spike in gas prices caused by the war in Iran and has urged the Administration to refocus on bringing down costs at home, not launching another prolonged conflict overseas that costs taxpayers billions of dollars. Administration officials have estimated that the first six days of the war cost taxpayers over $11 billion.

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