President Donald Trump said Monday (May 11) he is considering suspending the federal gas tax as Americans face rapidly rising fuel prices due to the ongoing war in Iran.

During an interview with CBS News, President Trump stated that the administration is "looking at suspending the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we'll let it phase back in." The move comes as the national average price for a gallon of gas reached $4.52, up seven cents from a week ago, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA) and cited by CiberCuba.

The steep rise in fuel prices follows the escalation of military conflict between the United States and Iran. After Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz—where about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes—was closed, disrupting global oil supply chains and causing prices to spike by over 50 percent since the conflict started. Many Americans have changed their driving and spending habits as a result, with a recent Washington Post survey reporting that 44 percent of adults are reducing how much they drive and 42 percent are cutting other expenses to pay for fuel.

The federal gasoline tax, set at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel, has not changed since 1993. The tax provides over $23 billion annually to fund federal highway and public transit programs, according to Fortune. Experts note that suspending the tax could provide some relief at the pump, but the actual savings for the average consumer would be less than eight dollars per month. Further, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association warns that the price cut may not be fully passed on to drivers, and such a move could threaten long-term investment in highways and transit.

President Trump does not have the authority to suspend the federal gas tax unilaterally; Congressional approval is required. Bipartisan bills in both the House and Senate would suspend the tax through October 1, but neither has advanced, as Republicans control both chambers and have not rallied behind the proposals without clear support from the White House. Money.com reports that similar efforts at the state level have met mixed results, with Georgia temporarily suspending its state gas tax and seeing a drop in prices.

In addition to considering a gas tax holiday, the Trump administration has released 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and eased certain sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil to help stabilize prices. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said, "any measures that can be taken to lower prices at gas stations and reduce costs for Americans have the support of this administration," as reported by CiberCuba.

Looking forward, the administration says it will keep monitoring the situation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that prices could drop to three dollars per gallon this summer if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, though others in the administration called that outcome uncertain. Congress is expected to debate the gas tax suspension in the coming weeks, but any change would require bipartisan support.

Michael DelGiorno