Would Pausing the US Federal Gas Tax Help Drivers?: Explainer

President Donald Trump is calling for a suspension of the federal tax on gasoline as fuel prices soar because of the war with Iran.

But Trump’s call on May 11 to pause the 18.4 cent a gallon tax “until it’s appropriate” is no sure thing. It would require approval from a Congress beset by gridlock. And if it becomes law, the savings from it would be relatively negligible.

Here’s a look at the prospects of suspending the tax.

Why is Trump calling for suspending the federal gas tax now?

The average national price for regular gasoline has surged since the ...