Republican leaders in the House are urging President Donald Trump to allow the Jones Act waiver to expire this summer to protect the U.S. maritime industry. The waiver, in effect since March, has allowed refiners to use foreign-flagged ships for fuel transport between U.S. ports as part of efforts to lower rising oil and gasoline prices linked to supply disruptions from the war in Iran.
The conflict has significantly impacted oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, halting approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil daily, which constitutes about 20% of global supply. Following a recent ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran, Republican lawmakers contend that the emergency conditions justifying the waiver have diminished.
More than 50 Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, signed a letter to Trump advocating for the waiver's expiration on August 16. The letter emphasizes that the Jones Act serves as a vital protection against foreign exploitation of U.S. waterways and supports American maritime jobs and the domestic shipping industry.
The letter also expresses concerns that the waiver has allowed foreign vessels to operate even when U.S.-flagged vessels were available, potentially undermining American jobs and manufacturing. Representative Randy Weber, who signed the letter, reiterated the call for the law to be reinstated as originally written, noting that the waiver has not significantly mitigated price increases as intended. As of June 25, 136 voyages and 119 unique vessels have utilized the Jones Act waiver, according to a tracker by the Cato Institute.