Former President Trump urges pause on federal gas tax as Iran‑Israel conflict escalates
In an exclusive interview with CBS News on Monday, former President Donald J. Trump called for a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline excise tax, arguing that it would provide immediate relief to American motorists amid soaring fuel prices linked to the ongoing Iran‑Israel war. Trump, who has been campaigning for a 2028 presidential bid, said the tax halt should last “until the conflict de‑escalates and oil markets stabilize.”
The proposal comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Transportation reports a 12 % jump in average gasoline prices since the war began in early May, pressuring households already coping with high inflation. Historically, the federal gas tax, set at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline, has been a stable revenue source for the Highway Trust Fund, which finances road and bridge projects nationwide.
CBS News senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe relayed Trump’s remarks that “the American people shouldn’t be paying extra for a foreign war they didn’t start,” while a senior official from the Federal Highway Administration told Reuters the trust fund is projected to run a $30 billion shortfall this fiscal year without additional funding.
Energy policy analysts, such as Brookings Institution senior fellow Dr. Mark Hanson, caution that a tax suspension could exacerbate the chronic underfunding of infrastructure, noting that the Highway Trust Fund has faced solvency issues since 2008. Republican lawmakers in the Senate have expressed tentative support, while Democrats argue the move would be a “political stunt” that undermines long‑term road maintenance.
Congress is expected to consider a short‑term waiver amendment in the upcoming House Ways and Means Committee hearing scheduled for June 5. Stakeholders will monitor whether legislation can gain bipartisan backing and how the Federal Highway Administration might adjust its budgeting to mitigate any revenue gaps caused by a temporary tax pause.