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White House Expected to Extend Jones Act Waiver to Ease Gas Prices

WASHINGTON — August 4, 2026

The White House is expected to extend a temporary waiver of the century-old Jones Act as the Trump administration seeks to reduce gasoline prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The current waiver, which is due to expire on August 16, allows greater flexibility in transporting fuel between U.S. ports by temporarily relaxing shipping rules that normally require cargo to be carried on American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed vessels. Officials believe the measure can help ease transportation bottlenecks and improve fuel supplies.

Although an extension is widely expected, government officials are still discussing possible changes to narrow the scope of the waiver while maintaining enough flexibility to move essential fuel shipments. No final decision has been announced, and the details could still change.

The waiver has remained in place for more than four months, making it the longest suspension of the Jones Act under the current programme. Government data shows it was used nearly 200 times through the end of July.

The administration has been searching for ways to lower gasoline prices, which remain above $4 per gallon on average across the United States. President Donald Trump has also publicly criticized major oil companies, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, accusing them of earning excessive profits while consumers continue to face high fuel costs.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the waiver has contributed to lower energy prices in parts of California and the U.S. East Coast. He indicated that another extension is likely and expressed confidence that fuel prices could decline further in the coming weeks.

Energy analysts say the waiver can improve the availability of fuel tankers by allowing more ships to transport petroleum products between domestic ports. However, experts also note that the impact on gasoline prices is expected to be modest, potentially reducing prices by only a few cents per gallon.

Some policymakers and industry groups have raised concerns about extending the exemption. Critics argue that frequent waivers could weaken the U.S. maritime industry by allowing foreign shipping companies to handle more domestic cargo, potentially affecting the long-term goals of the Jones Act.

Senior administration officials and congressional leaders have reportedly discussed placing tighter limits on future waivers, including restricting where they can be used and increasing oversight of approved shipments.

Maritime organizations have also launched campaigns opposing a broad extension, arguing that the temporary policy benefits foreign shipping operators more than American workers and businesses.

The White House says discussions are continuing and that any decision on extending or modifying the waiver will be announced by the administration once it is finalized.