The Biden administration is keeping the door open for a federal gas tax suspension as part of a broader push to provide financial relief to American drivers.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed Sunday that the White House is weighing every available option to drive down costs at the pump, which have remained a primary concern for households nationwide.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Wright was asked directly if the administration would back a move to halt the federal tax. “Yeah, 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,” Wright said.
The Secretary noted that the administration has already pulled several levers to stabilize the market. These actions include tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and adjusting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules regarding seasonal gasoline blends.
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Furthermore, officials have urged refinery operators to streamline their maintenance schedules to ensure maximum production capacity remains online.
However, as the summer travel season looms, Wright stopped short of promising a specific timeline for when prices might actually dip. He indicated that the domestic market remains heavily tethered to global shipping stability, specifically pointing toward the Strait of Hormuz—a vital chokepoint for global oil transit.
“I can’t make predictions about that,” Wright admitted regarding the timing of a price drop. “I can say that when we start to get free flow of traffic through the Straits of Hormuz, energy prices will come down.”
The proposal to suspend the federal gas tax, which currently sits at 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel, would require Congressional action to implement. While the administration signals its readiness to support the move, the impact remains dependent on both legislative approval and the resolution of ongoing maritime tensions abroad.
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