By MG Paul Vallely and Ray DiLorenzo
President Trump should take immediate action to pause federal gasoline taxes until the global oil markets settle to reasonable prices. This secession should continue until the end of hostilities in Operation Epic Fury and safe passage exists through the Strait of Hormuz for all nations.
The United States federal excise tax on gasoline is now approximately 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. Proceeds from the tax partly support the Highway Trust Fund. The federal tax was last raised on October 1, 1993, and is not indexed to inflation, which increased 122% from October 1993 until November 2025. On average, as of April 2019, state and local taxes and fees add 34.24 cents to gasoline and 35.89 cents to diesel, for a total US volume-weighted average fuel tax of 52.64 cents per gallon for gas and 60.29 cents per gallon for diesel. After talking to and listening to many supporters and voters from every party, we believe a federal moratorium on fuel taxes would be appropriate as long as Operation Epic Fury and its effects are in place. The current federal gas tax rates in the United States are as follows:
- Gasoline tax: $0.184 per gallon
- Diesel tax: $0.244 per gallon
- Aviation fuel tax: $0.194 per gallon
- Jet fuel tax: $0.219 per gallon[1]
Gas taxes affect the lives and finances of most Americans—a price paid for the privilege of driving on government roads. The gas tax is meant to function as a user fee, charging drivers to fund the construction and maintenance of the roads they use. User fees attribute the costs of government services to those who use them, avoiding charging people taxes for things they do not want or use. Transportation services particularly benefit from a user-fee pay structure.
States levy taxes on fuel in several different ways. Per gallon excise taxes on purchases at the pump are most common, while some states also include additional sales taxes or taxes on wholesalers or retailers that further increase prices for consumers. Most states also levy additional fees, like underground storage tank fees, that add to prices at the pump. The total tax burden on gasoline from these various taxes and fees varies significantly for drivers across the US.
California levies the highest tax on gasoline at 70.9 cents per gallon (cpg), followed by Illinois at 66.4 cpg and Washington at 59.0 cpg. The lowest gas tax rates are levied in Alaska at 8.95 cpg, followed by Hawaii at 18.5 cpg and New Mexico at 18.9 cpg. These rates do not include certain local taxes or the effects of environmental programs and regulations like cap-and-trade carbon policies or low carbon fuel standards, taxes levied at the local level, or certain taxes levied on gross receipts.
The prices of fuel and various items have gone back to their previous high since the start of the war. Many people were anticipating and experiencing a reduction in expenses since President Trump took office once again as he promised. We believe a reduction would be most welcome. It would certainly show that President Trump is listening and concerned that prices across the board have ceased coming down and have, in fact, gone back up, albeit temporarily.
Eliminating federal fuel taxes will have an immediate effect on most items since transportation expenses will be lower. Some states, especially red states, may even volunteer to take part in the temporary suspension of fuel taxes. For consideration by President Donald J Trump.
[1] Wikipedia 5.5.2026
