As Anniversary of Trump and Republicans’ Budget Bill Looms, Iowans are Paying More for Utilities, Groceries, Gas, and Healthcare 

Des Moines, IA — New research out from the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Climate Power highlights how unaffordable life has become for Iowans, thanks in large part to Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. One year after the GOP budget bill was signed into law, Trump’s policies have raised costs for Iowa families by $1,965 per household through the first half of 2026. For families that buy health care coverage through the ACA marketplace, that total climbs to $3,477. By the end of 2026, those totals could grow to $3,016 and $6,041, respectively. 

Trump’s war of choice in Iran raised gasoline and utility costs in Iowa by a total of $391. By the end of 2026, those additional energy costs could grow to $833 if costs continue to rise at the same rate. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Hinson both voted 12 times, and Rep. Zach Nunn voted 11 times in favor of Trump’s war and other policies that raised costs for Iowa families on gasoline, electricity, and tariff-affected goods, as well as ACA marketplace coverage. 

“Rather than taking action to lower the cost of living for Iowans, Trump and Republicans like Miller-Meeks, Hinson, and Nunn are actively making the problem worse,” said Climate Power Senior Advisor Jesse Lee. “One year ago, Trump signed the disastrous Republican budget bill into law, which directly attacked Iowa’s wind industry. 

“Since then, Iowa farmers, families, and businesses have been getting squeezed from every side—with tariffs, fuel costs, and utility bills all up in the past year. Instead of Iowa leading America toward energy independence, Trump and Republicans have made us even more reliant on the global oil and gas market, then led us into a disastrous war that we’ve all paid for at the pump.”

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