White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conducts a morning television interview at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 18, 2026. (Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
President Donald Trump on Wednesday temporarily waived a century-old shipping law to help ease energy costs that have surged since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into war.
Trump's move to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver would lift a ban on foreign-flagged vessels transporting cargo between U.S. ports over this period.
The 1920 law was aimed at promoting U.S. shipbuilding, but critics argue that it hampers free trade and has raised costs for consumers.
Trump's latest move 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," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.
She was referring to the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive launched against Iran on Feb. 28.
"This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer and coal to flow freely to US ports for sixty days," Leavitt added.
She vowed that the Trump administration "remains committed to continuing to strengthen our critical supply chains."
According to AAA motor group data, U.S. gasoline prices have risen more than 27 percent since the start of the war.
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