Trump’s Gas Tax Bombshell — SHOCKING Move Unfolding!

President Trump is now openly considering a federal gas tax suspension to deliver relief at the pump, signaling a major shift in administration energy policy as Americans face the highest fuel prices in four years.

Quick Take

Trump calls federal gas tax suspension “a great idea” and says administration is “looking at” temporarily pausing the 18.4-cent-per-gallon tax [6]
Energy Secretary Chris Wright states the Trump administration is “open to all ideas” to lower fuel costs, including a gas tax holiday [4]
National average gas price reached $4.52 per gallon, up significantly due to ongoing Iran conflict and oil supply disruptions [2]
Republican Senator Josh Hawley plans to introduce legislation to suspend both the gas tax and 24.4-cent diesel tax for 90 days

Trump Administration Takes Action on Soaring Pump Prices

President Trump told CBS News on Monday, May 11, that he is actively considering a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax as Americans struggle with rapidly rising fuel costs. “I think it’s a great idea,” Trump stated. “Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.” The move comes as national average gas prices climbed to $4.52 per gallon, marking the highest level since 2022 [6]. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reinforced the administration’s openness, stating on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that officials are “open to all ideas” to lower prices for consumers and businesses [4].

Congressional Republicans Rally Behind Relief Proposal

Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri announced plans to introduce legislation to suspend the federal gas tax, signaling GOP momentum behind Trump’s initiative. Hawley’s proposed bill would pause both the 18.4-cent gasoline tax and the 24.4-cent diesel tax for 90 days upon passage . This bipartisan interest reflects growing pressure from lawmakers across both parties to address pump prices, with Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and other Democratic lawmakers also proposing similar gas tax suspension legislation [1]. However, the Trump administration previously indicated the proposal was “not currently under consideration” before the Energy Secretary’s recent comments adjusted that position [1].

Reality Check: Congressional Approval Required

While Trump’s endorsement signals strong executive support, the President cannot unilaterally suspend the federal gas tax. Congress must approve any suspension through legislation, a significant hurdle given Washington’s partisan divisions and the approaching midterm elections [2]. Bipartisan bills in both the House and Senate would suspend the tax through October 1, but neither has advanced despite Republicans controlling both chambers [2]. The administration has already taken other steps to combat high prices, releasing 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and easing certain sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil [2].

Modest Savings Expected Despite Political Appeal

Tax and energy experts caution that a federal gas tax suspension would provide only modest relief to drivers. The 18-cent-per-gallon savings on regular gasoline and 24-cent reduction on diesel would lower the national average from $4.52 to approximately $4.34 per gallon [2]. This represents limited relief given that gas prices have surged roughly $1.54 per gallon since late February when the United States and Israel engaged militarily with Iran [2]. GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan noted that the suspension “doesn’t really amount to a whole lot” when gas prices are $1.50 higher than the prior year [2].

Big move: Trump backs federal gas tax suspension. Will it bring relief? ⛽ #Trump #GasTaxHoliday

— Watching Trending (@WT_Trending) May 12, 2026

Highway Trust Fund Faces Significant Revenue Loss

A gas tax suspension carries substantial fiscal consequences that conservatives should understand. The suspension would cost the Highway Trust Fund approximately $2.1 billion per month in lost revenue, totaling roughly $17 billion over a five-month period [2]. This represents nearly 46 percent of the trust fund’s projected fiscal year 2026 revenue, according to analyses [7]. The Bipartisan Policy Center projects that even accounting for partially offsetting savings, a five-month gas tax suspension would increase federal deficits by approximately $12 billion [7]. No administration proposal for alternative funding or deficit coverage has been detailed to date.

State-Level Precedent Shows Mixed Results

Several states suspended gas taxes in 2022 and early 2026, offering a preview of potential federal implementation challenges. Georgia, Indiana, and Utah enacted temporary gas tax holidays, though results showed only partial pass-through of savings to consumers at the pump [3]. State-level efforts faced infrastructure funding concerns, with some governors opposing suspensions due to impacts on road and bridge maintenance [3]. These precedents suggest that while a federal suspension might provide immediate political relief, actual consumer savings could fall short of the full 18-24 cent estimate due to market dynamics and supplier behavior.