Energy Secretary Says Administration Open To Pausing Federal Gas Tax
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on May 10 the administration is open to suspending the federal 18.4¢ gas tax as national averages rose to roughly $4.52–$4.55 per gallon amid the Iran conflict.
USA TODAYEnergy Secretary says Trump 'open' to pausing gas tax amid climbing prices
Daily SignalEnergy Secretary Can't Say When Gas Prices Would Drop
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Mother JonesTrump’s Energy Secretary: “I Can’t Predict the Price of Energy”
Overview
On May 10 Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the administration is open to suspending the federal gas tax to lower pump prices, saying "we're open to all ideas."
Gas prices rose to roughly $4.52 to $4.55 per gallon and have not been this high since 2022 when the national average hit $5.01, after being below $3 before Feb. 28.
Democrats introduced a bill in March to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax until October, and Wright said the administration released oil from strategic reserves coordinating with 30 other nations.
The federal gas tax is about 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24 cents per gallon for diesel, and it brings in roughly $36–$40 billion annually for the Highway Trust Fund.
Wright said the paused Project Freedom escort effort could resume "if it's clear in the next few days" there is no negotiated settlement and that the administration would use military force to open the Strait of Hormuz if needed.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a politically driven response to rising pump prices, using loaded terms like "soaring" and stressing midterm stakes. Editorial choices highlight administration openness and earlier optimistic predictions that failed, juxtaposing Wright’s quotes with factual price data; the quotes themselves remain source content, not editorial interpretation.