WASHINGTON D.C. – The White House made a decision to help the country. They are waiving the Jones Act for 60 days. This law is very old from 1920. It says that goods shipped between United States ports have to be on ships built owned and crewed by Americans. The White House announced this decision on Wednesday, March 18 2026. They want to help with the prices of fuel and fertilizer. These prices have been going up since the conflict in the Middle East started.
What is the Jones Act. Why is it being changed?
The Jones Act is a law that helps keep America safe and gives Americans jobs.. It can also cause problems when the United States needs to move oil or gas quickly. For example when oil needs to be moved from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast.
The Strait of Hormuz is blocked because of the war in Iran. This has made oil prices go up a lot. Now oil costs than $100 per barrel. Americans are feeling this when they buy gas. The price of gas has gone up a lot in a few weeks.
The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt said that this waiver is very important. It will help make sure that oil, natural gas and fertilizer can get to United States ports easily. This is while the military is still working on Operation Epic Fury.
How This Affects the Average American
If you live on the East Coast or are a farmer in the Midwest you should know about this:
- Gasoline Relief: Foreign tankers can now move United States oil. This will make the cost of transportation go down. Experts think this could make gas prices go down by 3 to 12 cents per gallon. It is not a lot. It helps when prices are high.
- Spring Planting Season: The conflict made it hard to get fertilizer. This waiver will help get fertilizer to farmers. This is news for farmers who are getting ready for the spring season.
- Supply Chain Flexibility: Now over 7,500 international tankers can be used. Before 50-60 ships could be used because of the Jones Act.
Not Everyone is Happy
Some people are not happy, about this decision. The United States Maritime Unions do not like it. They think it hurts shipbuilders and uses foreign crews who do not pay United States taxes.. The administration thinks it is necessary to help the economy.
Looking Ahead
The 60-day waiver is one of the longest since World War II. The United States and its allies are working together to release 400 million barrels of oil from reserves. Everyone is waiting to see if this will help stop prices from going up. The Jones Act waiver is a change. The Jones Act is important. The waiver is needed right now. The White House hopes it will help the Jones Act and the economy. The Jones Act will still be important after the waiver is over.
| Category | Detail |
| Duration of Waiver | 60 Days (Starting March 18, 2026) |
| Key Commodities | Oil, Natural Gas, Fertilizer, Coal |
| Estimated Price Drop | 3¢ to 12¢ per gallon |
| Triggering Event | Iran Conflict / Operation Epic Fury |
What is the Jones Act regarding cruise ships?
The Jones Act says that cargo and passenger ships that travel by water between United States ports have to be United States flag ships. A United States flag ship is a ship that is registered in the United States and has a crew that’re United States citizens. A time ago the ship also had to be built in the United States.
These days the United States shipping business is not doing well so a lot of the time foreign ships carry cargo and passengers, between United States ports.. First they have to ask the United States Maritime Administration for permission. If they get permission they get something called a Jones Act Waiver.
There are no United States flag passenger ships that travel across the ocean so a lot of waivers are approved.
The last two United States flag passenger ships were the CONSTITUTION and the INDEPENDENCE. They went to Hawaii.
What is the source of a U.S. president’s power to lift the Jones Act?
The President has the power to say that people do not have to follow the Jones Act. This power comes from a law that says the head of an agency that deals with ships can say it is okay to not follow the rules if it’s necessary for national defense. The Department of Homeland Security is the one that actually says it is okay to not follow the rules. The Department of Defense is the one that asks for this to happen.
When the Department of Defense asks for a waiver and the Department of Homeland Security says it is okay this is not a problem with how the government’s set up or with the Constitution. The law says this is allowed.
The Jones Act is a law that helps people who ship things within the United States by not letting people from countries ship things between places in the United States. As a lawyer I wonder if saying it is okay to not follow the Jones Act in this case is really necessary for defense. The Jones Act is important because it protects the interests of people who ship things in the United States. The question is whether the waiver of the Jones Act is necessary for defense. The Jones Act is meant to help shippers by keeping foreign shippers from shipping things between places, in the United States.