**Trump Supports GOP Push to Suspend Federal Gas Tax**
President Trump told CBS News on Monday he supports temporarily suspending the federal gasoline tax, which stands at 18.4 cents per gallon. Republicans in Congress plan to introduce legislation for the suspension while a bipartisan meeting on crypto tax legislation is also scheduled. The move comes as average gas prices reached $4.52 per gallon after surging $1.54 since the U.S.
citizen.co.zaFormer President Trump told CBS News he supports suspending the federal gas tax for a period of time. "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," Trump said in an interview with White House correspondent Nancy Cordes.
Republicans in Congress moved to introduce legislation that would suspend the federal gasoline tax. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said he planned to introduce legislation to suspend the federal gas tax. Any suspension would require congressional approval.
The federal gas tax is currently 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel. A suspension would deliver savings of roughly 18 cents per gallon at the pump. According to one analysis, that would save a sedan driver up to $2 per fill-up at national average prices.
Gasoline prices reached $4.52 a gallon on Monday according to AAA. That figure is about 46 percent higher than before the late-February U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Filling up a sedan now costs $18 to $25 more per tank than before the conflict began. Even with a federal tax suspension, the same driver would still pay roughly $24 to $32 more per tank than pre-conflict levels.
The federal gas tax helps fund the Highway Trust Fund. Suspending it would reduce revenue by an estimated $1 billion per month. Georgia, Indiana and Utah have taken steps to waive or reduce their own state fuel taxes. State fuel taxes range from 15 cents to about 60 cents per gallon.
Indiana is waiving both its use tax and excise tax on fuel, giving motorists a nearly 60-cent-per-gallon discount; prices at some stations have fallen below $4 as of May 10.
Separately, members of Congress will hold a bipartisan meeting to discuss crypto tax legislation.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- 2026-05-12
President Trump tells CBS News he supports suspending the federal gas tax for a period of time and phasing it back in when prices fall.
3 sourcesPresident Trump · CBS News - 2026-05-12
Sen. Josh Hawley announces plan to introduce legislation suspending the federal gas tax; Republicans in both chambers declare they will introduce similar bills.
2 sourcesSen. Josh Hawley · Politico - 2026-05-12
Congress members scheduled to hold bipartisan meeting on crypto tax legislation.
1 sourceWatcherGuru - 2026-05-10
Patrick De Haan reports Indiana seeing huge gas price drops after waiving state taxes, with some stations below $4 per gallon.
1 sourcePatrick De Haan - Late February 2026
U.S. and Israel attack Iran, after which gas prices begin surging $1.54 per gallon.
2 sourcesCBS News
Potential Impact
- 01
A sedan driver would save up to $2 per fill-up but still pay $18-$25 more per tank than before the Iran conflict.
- 02
California SUV drivers could save $2.36-$3.09 per fill-up from federal suspension yet face $24-$32 higher costs per tank since late February.
- 03
State-level tax waivers like Indiana's have produced nearly 60 cents per gallon discounts and prices below $4 at some stations.
- 04
Federal suspension risks reducing Highway Trust Fund revenue by $2.1 billion monthly and may stimulate fuel demand rather than encourage conservation.
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