The Trump administration on Wednesday moved to expand the nation’s gasoline supply amid a sharp rise in fuel prices tied to the escalating U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran, issuing an emergency waiver to allow broader sales of higher-ethanol fuel blends nationwide.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by Administrator Lee Zeldin, said the temporary action will permit the sale of E15 — gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol — across the country beginning May 1, bypassing seasonal restrictions that typically limit its availability in warmer months. The agency, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy, determined the waiver was warranted under the Clean Air Act to prevent fuel supply disruptions and ease costs for consumers.
The move comes as gasoline prices have surged in recent weeks following U.S. military action against Iran and the broader regional conflict, which has disrupted global oil markets. U.S. gas prices have climbed sharply — in some areas by more than 30 percent — as crude oil prices spiked above $100 per barrel and supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz were threatened or curtailed. Nationally, prices have approached $4 per gallon, reflecting what analysts describe as one of the most significant energy shocks in years.
Energy markets have been rattled by attacks on oil and gas infrastructure and fears of prolonged supply disruptions, with global benchmark crude briefly nearing $120 per barrel and gas prices hitting multi-year highs. The conflict has constrained production and shipping flows, tightening supply at a time of rising seasonal demand.
Administration officials say the emergency waiver is intended, in part, to blunt those impacts. By allowing wider distribution of E15 and easing regulatory limits on fuel blending, the policy is expected to increase overall gasoline supply and provide motorists with lower-cost options at the pump. E15 is typically priced below standard gasoline, and officials argue that expanding its availability could help offset at least some of the recent price spike.
Zeldin said the waiver would “reduce unnecessary costs and uncertainty” while expanding consumer choice during the peak summer driving season.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the move as both an energy and agricultural policy, saying it would boost demand for corn-based ethanol while offering relief to drivers. She added, however, that a permanent legislative fix is needed to allow year-round E15 sales — a long-standing goal of farm groups and biofuel advocates.
Under current regulations, E15 sales are restricted in many parts of the country during summer months due to concerns about smog-forming emissions. The EPA’s emergency waiver temporarily lifts those volatility limits and relaxes certain fuel-blending requirements, allowing retailers to offer blends ranging from 10 to 15 percent ethanol under a uniform national standard.
The waiver is set to take effect May 1 and will initially last 20 days — the maximum allowed under federal law — though officials said it could be extended if market conditions warrant. The agency also waived federal enforcement of certain state-level fuel requirements to streamline distribution and expand supply.
While industry groups welcomed the move as a step toward stabilizing fuel markets during a period of geopolitical volatility, many agricultural organizations said temporary waivers underscore the need for longer-term certainty, urging Congress to authorize permanent, nationwide sales of E15.
