Staff Reports
President Donald Trump has put a spotlight back on a simple, popular idea: suspend the federal gas tax to give Americans a little relief at the pump while prices are high because of the Iran war. It’s a straightforward ask. Congress has to act. Republicans in the Senate and House have already filed bills. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom in California is standing pat and calling the move a “gimmick.” That reaction says more about California politics than it does about pocketbook pain.
Trump’s push and the GOP bills on the table
President Donald Trump urged Congress to reduce or temporarily suspend the federal motor‑fuel excise tax — the 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel — until it’s “appropriate.” Senator Josh Hawley announced a Senate measure to zero out the tax for a set period, and Representative Jeff Van Drew put forward a longer House version. These are the kinds of bills that can pass if Republicans stand united and Democrats decide whether to act for voters or for bureaucracy.
It won’t cure everything — but it matters
No one is pretending 18.4 cents will erase a big spike in crude oil or fix refinery bottlenecks. Analysts rightly note that the federal excise tax is a small piece of retail pump prices, and past tax holidays have not always been fully passed through to drivers. Penn Wharton estimates a four‑month pause could cost the Highway Trust Fund roughly $11.5 billion, so there are real trade‑offs. Still, a temporary pause would be immediate, visible relief for working families and a political lifeline for lawmakers who want to show they care about gas prices.
Newsom’s posture: politics over relief
Governor Gavin Newsom’s response is predictable: he calls a state gas tax holiday a gimmick and blames the president for global events. California’s own fuel taxes — roughly 61 cents per gallon for the main state excise component plus other fees — already make Californians pay more than most Americans. When voters are hurting, lecturing them about low‑carbon goals while refusing modest, time‑limited relief looks like politics, not leadership. If Sacramento truly fears losing highway money, then propose an offset. Don’t hide behind slogans while drivers empty their wallets.
Where we go from here
Suspending the federal gas tax requires Congress. Republicans have offered plans; Democrats and transportation advocates warn of funding gaps. That’s a solvable problem — Congress can authorize a temporary pause and identify offsets or use a short, targeted window tied to clear price triggers. Voters want action that helps now without wrecking future roads. If lawmakers refuse to act because it’s inconvenient politically, they’ll answer to the people at the next election. That’s as it should be.
