The Trump administration signaled openness to suspending the federal gas tax as a potential tool to combat sharply rising fuel costs, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright telling NBC News on Sunday that the White House would consider "all ideas" to bring prices down at the pump.
Gas prices hit a national average of $4.52 per gallon on Sunday, according to AAA data, marking a jump of more than 50 percent since the start of the Iran conflict. The surge has reignited concerns about energy costs heading into an election year when fuel prices typically dominate voter concerns.
When asked directly whether President Trump would back suspending the federal gas tax, which currently sits at roughly 18 cents per gallon, Wright responded with measured language. "All measures that can be taken to lower the price at the pump and lower the prices for Americans, this administration is in support of," he said on "Meet the Press." Pressed further on the specific question, he added: "We're open to all ideas."
Wright acknowledged the complexity of any policy decision. "Everything has trade-offs," he noted, without elaborating on what sacrifices a tax suspension might entail.
The energy secretary stopped short of predicting whether prices could reach the $5 per gallon threshold, a psychologically significant price point that has haunted prior administrations. "I can't predict the price of energy in the short term or even the medium term," he said, pivoting instead to the geopolitical backdrop. Wright attributed current price pressures to ongoing tensions with Iran, which continues to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks marked a notable shift from Wright's more optimistic forecast in March, when he told the same program there was a "very good chance" gas prices could drop below $3 per gallon by summer. That prediction has not materialized. Eight weeks later, prices have climbed instead, with no immediate sign of returning to prewar levels.
Democrats introduced legislation in March to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, a proposal that has gained renewed relevance as prices remain elevated. The idea of a gas tax holiday is not new to Republican administrations and has bipartisan appeal during periods of price spikes, though economists have debated whether such measures effectively lower consumer costs or simply shift savings to retailers.
Wright emphasized what he described as America's strategic advantages in energy production, noting the country's robust output of oil and natural gas. He suggested that while Iran faces international sanctions affecting its oil revenues, the country may be able to absorb economic pressure for an extended period.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Wright's casual openness to the gas tax suspension signals the White House knows prices remain a political pressure point, even if he can't or won't admit how high they might go."
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