White House Set to Extend Jones Act Waiver Amid Rising Gas Prices

The White House is set to extend the Jones Act waiver as President Donald Trump seeks cheaper gasoline ahead of the midterm elections. The Jones Act requires cargo moving between U.S. ports to be carried on ships built in the U.S., owned by U.S. companies, and crewed by American workers. The waiver has already been used nearly 200 times over four-and-a-half months through July.

The current waiver is set to expire on August 16, but administration officials are discussing potential changes to narrow its scope while preserving flexibility to move critical fuel supplies. Oil industry representatives and lawmakers have met with White House officials to discuss the extension.

Trump has been escalating his attacks on Exxon Mobil and Chevron for making 'too much money' at the pump, where gasoline prices currently average over $4 a gallon in the U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the waiver had resulted in lower energy prices in California and on the East Coast and that another extension is likely.

Critics of the extension are pushing for geographic limits and tighter scrutiny on each shipment. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, and the White House Energy Dominance Council have been involved in discussions over the waiver extension.