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Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that the Trump administration is open to temporarily suspending the federal gas tax as Americans continue grappling with high fuel prices tied to the conflict with Iran.
“All measures that can be taken to lower the price at the pump and lower the prices for Americans, this administration is in support of,” Wright said during an appearance on Meet the Press when asked about the possibility of a federal gas tax holiday.
According to AAA, the national average gas price stood at $4.52 per gallon Sunday.
Drivers currently pay a federal gasoline tax of about 18 cents per gallon and roughly 24 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. If the federal tax were suspended immediately, average gasoline prices would fall to approximately $4.34 per gallon — still significantly higher than the $2.98 national average recorded two days before Donald Trump launched military operations against Iran.
Economists and transportation analysts have warned that even with a temporary tax suspension, the savings for consumers would likely be modest and may not significantly ease financial strain for lower-income Americans, who have been among the hardest hit by rising fuel costs.
A prolonged suspension could also create funding problems for the federal Highway Trust Fund, which relies heavily on fuel tax revenue to finance road construction, bridge repairs and transportation infrastructure projects nationwide.
Trump has repeatedly described elevated gas prices as a “short-term” consequence of the Middle East conflict. However, Wright acknowledged last month that prices could remain high for months, even after fighting subsides.
On Sunday, Wright declined to make firm predictions about future fuel costs.
“I can’t make any predictions about oil prices or gasoline prices,” he said, adding that energy costs would likely decline once shipping resumes normally through the Strait of Hormuz.
Traffic through the strategic waterway remains heavily disrupted amid competing naval blockades imposed by both sides in the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant share of the world’s oil shipments, and ongoing instability in the region has fueled concerns about global energy supplies and broader economic fallout.
