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House Speaker Calls Gas Tax Suspension 'Intriguing Idea'
Johnson Says He Is Not Ready to Project a Timeline as Lawmakers Debate Proposal, Trucking Groups Express Opposition
Speaker Mike Johnson called suspending the federal gas tax “an intriguing idea” but didn’t commit to a timeline as momentum builds in both chambers to take action.
“You have to look at any unintended consequences and evaluate all that, so I’m not yet ready to project it,” Johnson told Bloomberg Government on May 12. “But I certainly find it to be an intriguing idea.”
Both Republicans and Democrats are pushing for a gas tax freeze to bring down prices at the pump.
Major trucking groups oppose President Donald Trump’s plan to suspend the federal gasoline tax to counter rising prices at the pump, as the cost of oil soars while the war with Iran drags on.
On May 11, American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association and National Tank Truck Carriers released a statement detailing their opposition to such a proposal.
READ MORE: Kentucky Gov. Beshear to Cut Fuel Taxes by 10 Cents
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said he hasn’t supported previous suspension measures in the past, but “if the president wants to make that case, I think we’re all willing to hear it.”
The Senate majority leader noted suspending the tax has implications for the Highway Trust Fund and questioned if the benefits would get passed on to consumers.
“It’s a conversation that we’re willing to have,” Thune said at a May 12 news conference.
RELATED: Georgia Gov. Kemp Suspends Motor Fuel Taxes for 60 Days
As midterm elections approach, U.S. gas prices have surged to $4.50 a gallon this week, according to American Automobile Association data. Trump told CBS News on May 11 that he wanted to suspend the 18.4-cent gas tax “until it’s appropriate.” The measure could save consumers 10 to 16 cents a gallon when they fill up but remains controversial because the tax funds roads and bridges and hasn’t kept pace with inflation.
Headline: "Trump calls for federal gas tax suspension"
But this comes at a cost...
The U.S. federal gas tax currently imposes an 18.4 cent-per-gallon levy on gasoline and a 24.4 cent-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel. These taxes are a major source of funding for the federal… pic.twitter.com/5JLwlYjZyn — OilPrice.com (@OilandEnergy) May 11, 2026
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced legislation to suspend federal taxes on gas and diesel for 90 days shortly after Trump backed the idea. The bill would allow the president to extend the suspension for an additional 90 days.
MORE: States Weigh Motor Fuel Tax Holidays as Pump Prices Surge
Some Democrats, led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), previously proposed a temporarily freeze to bring some relief to drivers, messaging to voters that want to address energy affordability concerns.
Written by Macon Atkinson, Maeve Sheehey and Jonathan Tamari
