The Department of Justice is urging countries to crack down on illegal activities amid high gas prices

The federal government is urging state attorneys general to investigate and prosecute any illegal activities that cause high fuel costs for Americans.

“Although crude oil prices are now falling rapidly, too much oil is being withheld from the American people when they pay for gas,” said the letter, signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson.

The document also includes a screenshot of a Public Truth post President Donald Trump released last week.

In that June 24 post, Trump asserted, “The big oil companies are not lowering their prices at the pump to match the very low prices they are paying for Oil. Those prices are dropping like a rock! In other words, customers are being ‘screwed.’ I have directed the DOJ to immediately begin looking into this. Gasoline prices are starting to drop faster than I can see!”

BESSENT WARNS GAS STATIONS ‘WATCHING’ AS TRUMP DEMANDS IMMEDIATE PRICE CUT

The letter to state attorneys general states, “As the Department of Justice (DOJ) responds to the President’s call for action, the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are closely monitoring the petroleum markets.

“We urge state law enforcement to join us in investigating illegal practices. The recent volatility in crude oil prices does not suspend antitrust laws or state consumer protection laws, nor does it authorize companies to rig sales prices or collude with their competitors.

“We also encourage State Attorneys General to use all tools available under your state’s laws to investigate and prosecute any wrongful conduct that causes unfair price gouging – especially conduct that violates state antitrust and consumer protection laws. Although the Division and the Commission do not implement any laws specifically aimed at price gouging instead of anticompetitive behavior, many states have also enacted market price laws and directly violate market price laws and violate the laws of the market. those states to review whether the law is applicable under those laws.”

Gasoline prices spiked after the US launched a war effort against Iran earlier this year but have been falling recently.

TRUMP SEES FORGOTTEN GAS PRICES, DEMANDS DOJ INVESTIGATION

A driver reaches a pump at a gas station in Carolina Beach, NC, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Allison Joyce/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

The AAA national average price for regular gas was $3.823 as of July 3, down from an average of $4.261 the previous month.

“Fuel marketers need to lower their prices, FAST! They are too high considering Oil is now at $68 a barrel, and heading south. Marketers need to react quickly to this statement, and do what they know is right – LOWER YOUR PRICES TO OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE! forward!” Trump warned in a Truth Social post on Monday.

In part of Wednesday’s post, he announced, “As I promised, Oil Prices are coming down fast, and Gasoline Prices at the pump are also coming down, but not as fast as they should be.”

TRUMP WANTS LOWER WASTE GAS STATIONS ASAP AND RENEWS PUSH FOR $2.50 PETROL.

A banner with President Donald Trump hangs outside the headquarters of the Department of Justice before a press conference with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announcing the results of the annual health fraud in Washington, DC, June 23, 202. (Ken Cedeno/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

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“Affordable energy is critical to America’s thriving economy. The Antitrust Division is committed to working with federal law enforcement partners to provide resources and support to protect consumers from anti-competitive behavior that raises the price of gas,” Woodward said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

“The Antitrust Division will use all available tools to ensure that companies are held accountable for illegally manipulating the market.”