President Donald Trump has issued a 60-day waiver of the century-old Jones Act, allowing foreign ships to transport oil and other resources between U.S. ports, a White House official told FOX Business on Wednesday.
The Jones Act requires that cargo shipped between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned vessels crewed primarily by U.S. citizens. The temporary waiver suspends those requirements to ease short-term supply disruptions.
“President Trump’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is another step to mitigate disruptions to the oil market as the U.S. military continues meeting the objectives of Operation Epic Fury,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement posted on X. “This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow more freely to U.S. ports.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt framed the move as a short-term fix tied to ongoing military operations, saying it would help “vital resources…flow freely” during the disruption.
But the backlash was immediate.
Shipping industry groups warn the waiver could sideline U.S. workers under the guise of emergency policy. And despite the political urgency, they say consumers shouldn’t expect relief at the pump — the estimated impact on gas prices is basically negligible.
At the same time, frustration is building inside the administration over allies who are largely staying out of efforts to secure the Strait.
Trump made that frustration public, floating the idea that maybe those countries should handle the problem themselves.
“I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ (sic) That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!” Trump wrote.
