The Shift in Washington
President Donald Trump he is thinking about suspending the federal gas tax. Only three weeks have passed since House Republican leaders set aside a bill for the same purpose. The Daily Caller reported that Trump told reporters, “We’re thinking about that,” when asked about the tax. The move aims to lower fuel costs for families right before the midterm elections.
Four states have already passed their own temporary waivers to help drivers. Congress is not scheduled to return to Washington until after the election. This means the president would need lawmakers to come back early to make a federal change happen. New York Post noted that both the House and Senate are currently out of session.
What the Numbers Show
The federal tax adds 18.4 cents to every gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents to diesel. New York Post data shows the average cost of diesel is now $6.32 per gallon. That is down from a record high of $6.53 on September 22, but still nearly double last year’s price. Gasoline averages $4.37 per gallon, up from $3.13 one year ago.
On Monday, the president signed an executive order allowing truckers to buy tax-free “red dye” diesel through December 31. This order was signed at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska. It temporarily lets truckers use fuel meant for off-road equipment on highways to save money. The Daily Caller confirmed this order is already in effect while the tax talk continues.
Why the Bill Stalled
Republican Maryland Rep. Andy Harris introduced a bill on September 15 to suspend these fuel taxes. He wrote on X that “Republican swamp creatures are obviously tone deaf to Americans’ concerns over fuel costs.” He also added, “Good luck in November,” to his colleagues. House Speaker Mike Johnson said leadership decided against a vote because the conference did not agree on the measure.
Rep. Sam Graves, who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, also resisted moving the bill to the floor. Reports do not explain why these leaders changed their minds or if they plan to act again. In May, Trump stated to CBS News that “we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in”. That plan requires an act of Congress to become law.
Global Moves and Local Action
G-7 nations agreed on Friday to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from strategic reserves. This group includes the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. They hope to tamp down global prices. Meanwhile, both Republican- and Democratic-led states have passed waivers or eased restrictions on red dye diesel purchases. New York Post reported these state actions are already helping drivers in those specific areas.
A federal suspension plan would require Congress to come back to Washington for consideration. Neither the House nor the Senate is set to reconvene until following the election. The Daily Caller reported that the president is weighing this option as states lead the way. The question remains whether lawmakers will come back early to help lower costs for families. New York Post noted the average diesel price remains high despite recent drops.
