Transportation Construction Coalition Leads Opposition to Federal Gas Tax Holiday

What happened: Speaking with a united voice, the ARTBA co-led Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), comprised of 34 trade organizations and labor unions, sent a letter to Congress May 12 expressing “strong opposition to proposals under discussion to suspend the federal gas tax.”

As recently reported, President Donald Trump expressed support for pausing the tax amid concerns about higher gas prices following the war in Iran. Legislation has been introduced to pause the gas tax in both chambers, but action on legislation has not been scheduled.

The letter coincided with the 2026 TCC Fly-In, providing an opportunity for hundreds of  transportation construction advocates to express their opposition to this proposal during face-to-face Capitol Hill visits.

Why it matters: “The federal gas tax is the foundation of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the nation’s transportation improvements,” the letter stated. “Using it as a political tool is a disservice to those who depend on reliable, well-maintained road, bridge and transit systems.”

The coalition also cited an ARTBA Transportation Investment Advocacy Center analysis from 2022 that showed gas tax holidays rarely translate into lower prices at the pump. Instead, prices rebound to where they were within days because there is no requirement for these savings to be passed down at the pump.

What’s next: The coalition encouraged Congress to, instead, focus on proven legislation that will address affordability: timely passage of a surface transportation reauthorization bill. “Congressional action by Sept. 30 will reduce bottlenecks, ease congestion, improve safety, and help lower the real costs drivers face from deteriorating roads.”