What does the federal gas tax go toward?
What does the federal gas tax go toward?  
Podcast: Marketplace All-in-One
Published On: Wed May 13 2026
Description: To address pain at the pump, President Donald Trump and some Congressional Republicans are floating the idea of temporarily pausing the federal gas tax. The thing is, that gas tax helps pay for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and more. Today, we delve into how the tax shows up in our everyday lives. Then, we head to Boston to hear how a small college there is serving low-income, first-generation students.