With the Iran war driving up the average price of gas more than a dollar per gallon, politicians are calling to suspend the gas tax until the crisis ends. In Maryland, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said in response to Democrats pushing for a suspension of their 23.5 cent gas tax. Then-President Joe Biden called for a three-month federal gas tax holiday, but Congress never passed it because most lawmakers recognized it was a gimmick. Setting aside politics, pausing the gas tax subsidizes demand during a supply shock.

Source: Washington Post March 25, 2026 16:51 UTC