The Trump administration is open to suspending the federal gas tax as drivers face higher prices at the pump during the ongoing Iran war, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday.
Wright made the comments during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where host Kristen Welker asked whether President Donald Trump would support suspending the tax.
“We are working every day to offset this rise in prices because of a critical conflict in Iran to drive prices down and we’re open to all such ideas,” Wright said.
How Much Drivers Could Save
The federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The revenue helps fund highway and infrastructure programs.
AAA listed the national average for regular gas at $4.52 per gallon on Sunday. Suspending the federal tax would offer some relief but would not erase the broader increase in fuel costs.
AAA reported that the national average was $2.98 per gallon two days before the war began.
Prices Remain Under Pressure
Wright declined to say whether gas prices could reach $5 per gallon as the conflict continues and summer travel season approaches.
“I’m avoiding price predictions,” Wright said. “Gasoline and diesel prices are up, and they’ll remain up while this conflict is in place, and then they will come back down, and ultimately they’ll come back down lower than they were before.”
Several states, including Georgia, Indiana, and Utah, have suspended their own state gas taxes.
Any federal gas tax holiday would likely require action from Congress and could raise questions about transportation funding because federal fuel tax revenue supports highway programs.
For now, Wright framed the idea as one option under review as the administration looks for ways to reduce energy costs for American households.
