{"id":692,"date":"2026-05-12T07:53:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=692"},"modified":"2026-05-12T07:53:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:53:02","slug":"trump-says-hell-move-to-suspend-federal-gasoline-tax-he-cant-do-it-on-his-own-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uscnews.org\/?p=692","title":{"rendered":"Trump says he\u2019ll move to suspend federal gasoline tax. He can\u2019t do it on his own"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at an event about maternal healthcare, Monday, May 11, 2026, in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/small><\/p>\n

2026-05-11T17:23:50Z<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 President Donald Trump said Monday he will move to suspend the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans shoulder surging fuel prices<\/a><\/span> caused by the Iran war. <\/p>\n

The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for a gas-tax suspension, saying it would provide much-needed relief for families and businesses<\/a><\/span> that rely on their cars and trucks to get to work and school and run everyday errands.<\/p>\n

As of Monday, the average national gas price was $4.52 a gallon, according to the AAA motor club, 50% higher than the average price of just under $3 a gallon before Trump began the war against Iran. <\/p>\n

What the gas tax supports<\/h2>\n

The federal tax is currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, an amount that does not include state taxes, which often are higher. The tax provides more than $23 billion per year in revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.<\/p>\n

Asked by reporters at the White House how long the tax should be suspended, Trump said, \u201cUntil it\u2019s appropriate.\u201d While the tax is only a small percentage of the price of gas, \u201cit\u2019s still money,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

As gas prices have spiked,<\/a><\/span> the Trump administration has released millions of barrels of oil<\/a><\/span> from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and temporarily lifted sanctions on some Russian and Iranian oil shipments already at sea. The U.S. is negotiating with countries reliant on Middle East crude<\/a><\/span> to join a coalition to police the Strait of Hormuz<\/a><\/span>, where about one-fifth of the world\u2019s traded oil normally flows.<\/p>\n

Trump needs Congress \u2014 and they\u2019re beginning to react<\/h2>\n

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said on social media Monday that he will introduce legislation to suspend the gas tax. Democrats have previously sponsored similar legislation. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., also said in a post on X<\/a><\/span> that she will introduce a bill \u201cto suspend the federal gas tax in light of Trump\u2019s recent remarks.\u201d <\/p>\n

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday he has not \u201cbeen a fan\u201d of a gas tax suspension, but added: \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve got some colleagues out there who think it\u2019s a good idea. So, we\u2019ll hear them out.\u2019’<\/p>\n

Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said he\u2019d prefer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to \u201cnormalize gas prices\u201d without legislation. \u201cObviously, any time you suspend the gas tax, that leaves a big hole in the highway trust fund, which also has implications down the road,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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