GOP Leadership Pumps the Brakes on Trump's Gas Tax Holiday — 24 Hours In, the Push Is Already Stalling

Where Things Stand Right Now

The gas tax holiday isn't dead. But it's not moving either.

Twenty-four hours after President Trump told reporters he wants to suspend the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, congressional leadership had NOT thrown any weight behind any of the bills circulating on Capitol Hill, according to reporting by Yahoo News and USA Today.

House Speaker Mike Johnson called it an "intriguing" idea. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise — the guy who controls the House floor calendar — declined to promise a vote. That's polite Washington for: don't hold your breath.

The Bills That Exist (And What They Actually Do)

Several proposals are now floating. Here's what's actually on the table as of May 12, 2026:

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced legislation to suspend both the gasoline tax (18.4 cents/gallon) and the diesel tax (24.4 cents/gallon) for 90 days, with an option for Trump to extend it another 90 days if economic conditions warrant, according to CNBC and ABC News.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced a House companion bill this week.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) went further — his bill suspends the tax for 18 months, then phases it back in gradually instead of reinstating it all at once, according to ABC News.

Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) along with Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) introduced their own bill on March 9 — suspending the tax through October 1, 2026. That bill has been sitting in the Senate Finance Committee for two months, according to CNBC.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) proposed a trigger-based bill on April 14: suspend the gas tax automatically whenever the national average exceeds $4 per gallon, and offset the lost revenue with roughly $30 billion redirected from existing oil and gas subsidies into the Highway Trust Fund, according to ABC News.

The national average is currently $4.50 per gallon as of May 12, according to AAA via CNBC. Gas is up 50% since the Iran war began on February 28.

What Gets Overlooked

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on May 12 that the gas tax holiday was NOT even discussed at the Republican conference lunch that day, according to Yahoo News. While Trump was publicly calling for action, the measure didn't come up in the GOP leadership meeting.

Also significant: Republicans opposed this exact idea when Biden was president. The Hill documented that Sen. Hawley and others now introducing gas tax bills were critics or skeptics of similar Democratic proposals during the 2022 gas price spike.

The Highway Trust Fund Problem Is Real

Sen. Thune flagged the core fiscal problem: the gas tax funds the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for highway construction and maintenance across every state in the country.

Suspending the tax for 90 days doesn't just cost drivers 18 cents at the pump — it punches a hole in infrastructure funding. Policy experts cited by CNBC warned the move could deplete a key federal fund. Only Boyle's offset proposal addresses the shortfall.

Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) told USA Today: "It's like taking an aspirin for cancer." He supports suspending the tax but acknowledges it's marginal relief against a $4.50/gallon reality.

Schumer Calls It "Not Enough" — But His Party Had Two Months

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters the GOP proposal "isn't enough" to make a meaningful difference, according to The Hill.

On the math, that holds up. Eighteen cents on a $4.50 gallon is about a 4% reduction. Meaningful for someone filling up a truck every week. Not a solution.

But Schumer's party introduced their own gas tax suspension bill on March 9 and let it sit in committee for 10 weeks without pushing it to a floor vote. Democrats own some of this delay. The bill existed. Nobody forced it through.

What Actually Has to Happen Next

Trump floated the idea verbally. He hasn't sent legislation to Congress. He hasn't formally requested a bill. Johnson and Thune are waiting for him to actually make a case — in person, directly to Congress.

Until that happens, multiple bills exist, multiple press releases have been issued, and Americans are still paying $4.50 a gallon.

The Iran war started February 28. It's May 12. That's 73 days of elevated fuel prices. Congress is still in the "willing to have the conversation" phase.