With gas prices continuing to skyrocket, Donald Trump told CBS News Monday that he wants to pause the federal gas tax “for a period of time.”
President Trump told CBS News on Monday that he intends to suspend the federal gas tax “for a period of time” and phase it back in “when gas goes down.”
The president made the comments in a phone interview with CBS News chief White House correspondent @nancycordes. Suspending… pic.twitter.com/6jmAsmzoNX
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 11, 2026
From CBS News:
“I think it’s a great idea,” the president said. “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.”
Gas prices have soared over 50% since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, hitting a high of over $4.52 on Sunday, according to AAA. Analysts say the prices are likely to remain high with Iran blocking access to the Strait of Hormuz.
But suspending the excise taxes — 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents a gallon on diesel — requires an act of Congress, and pausing it would cost the federal government about a half billion dollars a week.
Something I didn’t know until today — a Congressional Research Service study in 2022 (when then-President Biden suggested suspending the gas tax) found that it is difficult to ensure the government actually passes those savings onto consumers.
The federal gas tax is collected at the refinery or terminal — not by your local gas station when you pay at the pump.
Oil prices surged this morning as investors reacted to Trump calling Iran’s latest proposal to end the war “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”
Following Trump’s remarks, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced he plans to introduce the legislation in the Senate. And Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) will sponsor the bill in the House.
The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found 63% of Americans say they blame Trump “a great deal” or “a good amount” for higher gas prices.
Hawley to introduce bill suspending federal gas tax https://t.co/QIZVA6uCIV
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 11, 2026
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