$6 Diesel: America's Hidden War Tax
The national average price of diesel has risen to $6.06 per gallon, up from roughly $3.71 a year earlier, marking a 60% increase.
This significant rise in diesel prices affects more than just truck stops; it impacts the entire American economy as diesel is used for transportation, moving goods and products across the country.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that transportation consumed about 123 million gallons of distillate fuel a day in 2025, with trucks and trains responsible for most product movement, while diesel also powers farm and construction equipment.
The increased cost of diesel is not collected by the IRS or listed as a line item in the Pentagon budget; instead, it appears as freight surcharges, higher grocery bills, farm costs, delivery fees, and construction bids. This added burden is estimated to be around $46 billion nationwide, with each household facing an additional $350 per year.
The administration has presented the war with Iran as a defense of American security; however, energy security is also part of national security, and Washington's own policy has contributed to making the world's most important oil corridor more dangerous.