{"id":2601301,"date":"2026-05-11T14:59:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/momentum-grows-for-pausing-gasoline-tax-after-trumps-backing\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T19:01:18","slug":"momentum-grows-for-pausing-gasoline-tax-after-trumps-backing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/momentum-grows-for-pausing-gasoline-tax-after-trumps-backing\/","title":{"rendered":"Momentum grows for pausing gasoline tax after Trump\u2019s backing"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmomentum-grows-for-pausing-gasoline-tax-after-trumps-backing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2601301&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Republicans are considering legislation to pause teh federal gas tax to ease rising fuel prices blamed on the Iran war and disruptions to oil routes, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Sen. Josh Hawley and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna say they will introduce a bill to suspend excise taxes of 18.4 cents per gallon for gas and 24.4 cents for diesel, with President Donald Trump also backing a temporary suspension \u201cuntil it\u2019s appropriate.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>The article notes that it\u2019s uncertain how long the pause would last and whether GOP leadership will advance it. It also cites cost estimates suggesting a one-month suspension could cost about $3.5 billion, or roughly $21 billion for six months without offsets, while emphasizing that gas tax revenue funds road and transit projects via the Highway Trust Fund.some conservatives argue the gas tax should be repealed outright, but others criticize a short-term holiday as a \u201cgimmick,\u201d pointing to the war with Iran as the underlying cause of higher prices. Democrats have previously proposed their own temporary gas tax pause thru October to provide voter relief.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"240\">Republicans<\/a> are exploring pausing the federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1487\">gas<\/a> tax in an effort to provide voters relief as prices at the pump soar due to the war in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HawleyMO\/status\/2053851177079484834\">pledged<\/a> to introduce legislation to suspend the excise taxes, which are 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4562956\/whales-cryptic-mortality-threats-shipping-changes\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Scientist warns of \u2018cryptic mortality\u2019 threats to whales due to shipping route changes<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4562887\/trump-calls-pause-federal-gas-tax-ease-prices-pump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump calls to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scientist-warns-of-threats-to-whales-due-to-shipping-route-changes\/\" title=\"Scientist warns of threats to whales due to shipping route changes\">pause federal gas tax<\/a> in bid to ease prices at the pump<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4562769\/texas-firm-looking-explore-oil-rural-georgia\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Texas firm looking to explore oil in rural Georgia<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Gas prices have soared since the start of the Iran war due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reaching a national average of $4.55 last week, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/gasprices.aaa.com\/national-average-rises-25-cents-for-second-straight-week\/\">according to AAA<\/a>. The price is the highest it has been since 2022, when the national average jumped to $5.01 per gallon. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>President Donald Trump threw his support behind pausing the federal gas tax on Monday, saying he would suspend the tax \u201cuntil it\u2019s appropriate.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a small percentage, but it\u2019s still money,\u201d he said in the Oval Office.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier Monday, the president told CBS News that he thought it was a \u201cgreat idea\u201d to temporarily pause the federal tax.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYup, we\u2019re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we\u2019ll let it phase back in,\u201d the president told the outlet. <\/p>\n<p>Shortly after Trump threw his support behind a pause in the federal tax, Hawley and Luna announced they would introduce legislation to approve it, as such a suspension would require an act of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmerican families need this relief on gas prices,\u201d Luna said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepLuna\/status\/2053859471609168071\">post on X<\/a>. \u201cMy office will be working directly with President Trump to ensure we deliver this win for the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear for how long a pause on the federal gas tax would be, or if GOP leadership will bring such measures to the floor. The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has contacted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) for comment.<\/p>\n<p>The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crfb.org\/blogs\/gas-tax-holiday-would-cost-billions-each-month\">projected in March<\/a> that suspending the federal gas tax for one month would cost $3.5 billion, while a six-month pause would cost about $21 billion if there are no offsets. Money generated from the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-must-create-new-taxes-eliminate-natural-gas-to-meet-climate-pledge-analysts-say\/\" title=\"Biden Must Create New Taxes, Eliminate Natural ... to Meet Climate Pledge, Analysts Say\">federal gasoline tax<\/a> funds improvements<\/a> to road and transit projects through the Highway Trust Fund. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe federal gasoline tax was introduced to build the interstate highway system,\u201d Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/2053872234800841123\">said on X<\/a>. \u201cThat system is now built \u2026 We should now repeal the federal gasoline tax and let each state maintain its portion of the interstate highway system\u2014with its own revenue\u2014as was the plan from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam Michel, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the \u201cfederal gas tax is a relic of the past that should be repealed\u201d entirely. <\/p>\n<p>But Michael also called a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-and-california-democrats-push-back-against-gas-tax-relief\/\" title=\"Virginia and California Democrats Push Back Against ... ...\">temporary gas tax holiday<\/a> a \u201cgimmick, not a reform.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Michel continued, \u201cIf the administration wants to bring down gas prices, it should end the unconstitutional, unauthorized, and unnecessary war in Iran, which is the reason prices are up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4562887\/trump-calls-pause-federal-gas-tax-ease-prices-pump\/\"><strong>TRUMP CALLS TO PAUSE FEDERAL GAS TAX IN BID TO EASE PRICES AT THE PUMP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Democrats have been pushing for a temporary pause to the federal gas tax. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)\u00a0introduced legislation in March to suspend the gas tax until October to provide voters relief.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFamilies across Arizona are\u00a0dealing with high\u00a0costs on almost everything, and\u00a0now\u00a0gas prices are skyrocketing\u00a0because Donald Trump started a war with Iran,\u201d\u00a0Kelly said in a statement announcing the legislation. \u201cArizona families\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0pay the price for Donald Trump\u2019s bad decisions.\u00a0Suspending the federal gas tax would help bring prices down and give families some\u00a0much needed\u00a0relief.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republicans explore pausing the federal gas tax to help voters as Iran war drives pump prices higher<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2601302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-olexgc972-1778518365827-e1778525640297.jpg?1778511235&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32544,79483,13710],"class_list":["post-2601301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gas-prices","tag-gasoline-tax","tag-momentum"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-olexgc972-1778518365827-e1778525640297.jpg?1778511235&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601301"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601305,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601301\/revisions\/2601305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2601302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}