Trump Moves to Suspend Century-Old Shipping Restrictions to Stabilize Energy Markets

In a decisive move aimed at protecting American consumers and reinforcing national energy stability, President Donald Trump has authorized a temporary suspension of the century-old Jones Act, seeking to ease pressure on oil prices as geopolitical tensions with Iran intensify.

The announcement was delivered Wednesday by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who framed the decision as part of a broader, strategic response to current global disruptions.

“President Trump’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is just another step to mitigate the short-term disruptions to the oil market as the U.S. military continues meeting the objectives of Operation Epic Fury,” she wrote on the social media site X.

Leavitt further emphasized the administration’s focus on supply chain resilience, stating, “This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports for sixty days, and the Administration remains committed to continuing to strengthen our critical supply chains.”

The Jones Act, originally enacted over a century ago, mandates that goods transported between U.S. ports must be carried on ships that are American-built, owned, and operated. While designed to bolster domestic maritime industries, critics have long argued that the law imposes unnecessary costs on American businesses and consumers by limiting competition and driving up shipping expenses.

With energy markets experiencing volatility following escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Trump administration has signaled a willingness to use every available executive tool to maintain affordability and ensure steady supply. Despite earlier efforts by President Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to calm markets after oil prices briefly surged past $100 per barrel, the persistence of instability has necessitated more direct intervention.

Historically, waivers to the Jones Act have been reserved for moments of national urgency. Federal law allows such exemptions during times of war, natural disasters, or threats to national security.

“Congress has also authorized waivers of the Jones Act in the interest of national defense,” according to the Library of Congress. “The domestic shipping restrictions were waived during World War I. They were waived again in preparation for World War II. In 1950, after the Korean War began, Congress enacted a provision allowing the executive branch to issue waivers ‘in the interest of national defense.'”

That authority remains in force today and has been utilized in prior crises. Waivers were issued in both 1991 and 2011 to accelerate the movement of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve during the Persian Gulf War and amid unrest in Libya.

President Trump had already announced plans last week to tap into the nation’s strategic petroleum reserves, signaling a comprehensive, America-first approach to energy policy — one that prioritizes affordability, supply security, and economic stability during uncertain times.

By temporarily lifting restrictive shipping regulations, the administration is reinforcing its commitment to free-market efficiency while ensuring that critical resources reach American ports without delay.