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WASHINGTON — <\/span>President Donald Trump said Monday he will move to suspend the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans shoulder surging fuel prices<\/a> caused by the Iran war. <\/p>\n The president cannot suspend the federal tax on his own. Congress would have to approve the move.<\/p>\n Lawmakers from both parties have pushed for a gas-tax suspension, saying it would provide much-needed relief for families and businesses<\/a> that rely on their cars and trucks to get to work and school and run everyday errands.<\/p>\n As of Monday, the average national gas price was $4.52 a gallon, according to the AAA motor club, 50% higher than the average price of just under $3 a gallon before Trump began the war against Iran. <\/p>\n The federal tax is currently set at 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, an amount that does not include state taxes, which often are higher. The tax provides more than $23 billion per year in revenue for federal highway and public transit programs.<\/p>\n Asked by reporters at the White House how long the tax should be suspended, Trump said, \u201cUntil it\u2019s appropriate.\u201d While the tax is only a small percentage of the price of gas, \u201cit\u2019s still money,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n As gas prices have spiked,<\/a> the Trump administration has released millions of barrels of oil<\/a> from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and temporarily lifted sanctions on some Russian and Iranian oil shipments already at sea. The U.S. is negotiating with countries reliant on Middle East crude<\/a> to join a coalition to police the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, where about one-fifth of the world\u2019s traded oil normally flows.<\/p>\n Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said on social media Monday that he will introduce legislation to suspend the gas tax. Democrats have previously sponsored similar legislation. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., also said in a post on X<\/a> that she will introduce a bill \u201cto suspend the federal gas tax in light of Trump\u2019s recent remarks.\u201d <\/p>\n Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday he has not \u201cbeen a fan\u201d of a gas tax suspension, but added: “You know, I\u2019ve got some colleagues out there who think it\u2019s a good idea. So, we\u2019ll hear them out.”<\/p>\n Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said he’d prefer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to \u201cnormalize gas prices” without legislation. \u201cObviously, any time you suspend the gas tax, that leaves a big hole in the highway trust fund, which also has implications down the road,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said that “instead of suspending the tax, we should suspend the war.\u201d<\/p>\n The ongoing spike in gas prices has set off alarms among some Republicans that it could hurt the party’s chances in the midterm elections. <\/p>\n Sen. John Cornyn, who is in a tough runoff race later this month to keep his seat, said he wants to know how roads and bridges would be paid for if the tax is lifted. But he said there\u2019s a \u201cdifference between a temporary suspension and a permanent suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA temporary suspension to get through this sort of bumpy time because of the uncertainty about energy prices, I could live with that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Trump has previously said higher fuel prices are worth paying to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. That hardline message appeared to soften Sunday as Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration was \u201copen to all ideas,\u201d including a suspension of the gas tax, during an interview on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n A bill sponsored by Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Mark Kelly of Arizona would suspend the federal tax through Oct. 1. A similar measure was sponsored in the House by Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire. <\/p>\n “Trump\u2019s war of choice with Iran is driving up gas prices across the country \u2014 and Americans shouldn\u2019t have to bear the additional economic burden of Trump\u2019s reckless decision making,\u201d Blumenthal said in introducing the bill.<\/p>\n Kelly told reporters Monday he still prefers his legislation but would take \u201cwhatever we can get at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople need relief,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Several states, including Indiana and Georgia, have recently suspended their taxes to alleviate high prices amid the war. Kentucky and Utah have reduced their state tax. Other states are weighing similar suspensions or tax reductions. <\/p>\n The gasoline tax is the single largest source of revenue for federal highway and public transit programs. <\/p>\n