Rep. Castor Blames Energy Sec. Wright for High Electric & Fuel Costs

Trump Administration Policies Criticized for Rising Energy Costs

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) recently questioned Energy Secretary Chris Wright, an appointee of President Trump, regarding policies that could be responsible for high energy costs borne by American citizens. Castor brought attention to the ongoing conflicts between Trump, the GOP, and Iran that might be contributing to significant price hikes and inflation.

Castor pointed to a sharp increase in household energy bills since the beginning of Trump’s second term, with figures showing a 10.9% rise in energy inflation and a 21% hike in gas prices in March 2026 alone, marking a historical high. She also highlighted the cancellation of hundreds of ongoing clean energy projects by Wright and Trump, their capitulation to oil and gas lobbying, and the impact this is having on the high cost of energy.

“At best, the policy priorities from the DOE and the administration are incoherent. At worst, they pose a real risk to our energy reliability and resilience,” Rep. Castor said. “This budget does nothing to help hardworking American families. In fact, it actively hurts them. It’s a budget that will leave the United States further behind our competitors in the global energy race, while callously telling Americans, ‘good luck to you’ as they continue to scrape by.”

The representative urged Secretary Wright to emphasize cheaper, cleaner energy in the Department’s budget, with the welfare of American citizens taking precedence over corporations and polluters.

Effects of the Trump Administration’s Policies

During her address, Castor spoke about the Trump administration’s policies that have led to an increase in living costs, including a rise of up to 13% in household electric bills and substantial rate hikes imposed by utilities. The ongoing conflict with Iran has also led to a surge in energy prices, resulting in the highest energy inflation in 20 years and a record-setting increase in gas prices.

She further mentioned that consumers are likely to experience additional costs as consumer goods transported by diesel trucks across the country will be affected by rising diesel prices. The Trump tariffs and the rollback of clean energy initiatives in the Inflation Reduction Act have also led to higher energy costs for consumers.

The congresswoman also criticized the administration for eliminating tax credits for solar, wind, electric vehicles, and home efficiency upgrades, which has resulted in higher electric bills for hardworking Americans. Despite an increase in energy demand, the Department of Energy has halted cleaner, cheaper energy projects, leading to power shortages in some regions and further increasing electric bills.

Effects on Oil and Gas Executives

Castor pointed out that while American families struggle with these high costs, oil and gas executives have seen substantial profits as a result of the war in Iran. She cited a report from The Wall Street Journal, which stated that America’s top oil executives, particularly CEOs, have pocketed over $1.4 billion in the past few months alone.

The representative also criticized the Trump administration’s proposed budget, which would cut initiatives focused on consumer savings, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the weatherization program, and instead subsidize the coal industry and preserve coal, oil, and gas industries.

Overall, Castor conveyed a strong belief that these policies from the Trump administration and the Department of Energy do more harm than good for American families, and that they should instead focus on cheaper, more reliable, and cleaner energy options.