MANCHESTER, NH – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan sharply on Thursday criticized rising gas prices tied to the war in Iran, blaming both the conflict and what she described as a lack of planning and accountability for worsening costs facing New Hampshire families.
Hassan said Granite Staters were already grappling with high prices, but the President Trump’s decision to enter the war without consulting Congress has triggered a predictable spike in fuel costs.
“At a time when Granite Staters already know how high gas prices are, families now are facing a surge… because of the president’s unilateral war against Iran,” Hassan said.
She pointed to new data from the U.S. Joint Economic Committee showing Americans paid $8.4 billion more for gasoline in just one month, with sharp increases in the cost to fill up common vehicles. New Hampshire consumers have spent more than $38,344,308
“Families are already being pushed to the brink… by the cost of everything from groceries to rent to health care,” she said. “Now they’re being forced to pay more at the pump.”
Hassan framed the issue as part of a broader affordability crisis and warned there is no clear plan from the administration to bring costs down.
“These high costs that they are facing are not sustainable,” she said.
She also criticized the administration’s handling of the war, arguing it failed to coordinate with allies or prepare for disruptions to global oil supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
“The president went ahead and unilaterally started a war without consulting the American people… and failed to plan for the fallout,” Hassan said.
In additional remarks, Hassan raised concerns about what she described as a lack of accountability to Congress and the public.
“The American people have a right now… to have a president and an administration that is accountable,” she said, noting Congress has attempted to pass bipartisan war powers resolutions requiring the president to seek approval for military action.
She urged public engagement, encouraging residents to speak out and contact elected officials.
“People need to keep speaking up… and remind ourselves that we are a freedom-loving people,” Hassan said.
Hassan also pointed to potential policy responses to ease financial pressure, including support for suspending the federal gas tax and lowering costs tied to health care, housing and prescription drugs.
“I certainly support suspending the federal gas tax… and there are other measures we could take to bring people’s costs down,” she said.
She called for ending the war, engaging Congress, and pursuing bipartisan solutions to lower costs.
“It’s past time… to end this war and work on a bipartisan basis to bring costs down,” Hassan said.