Trump TRIES SOMETHING NEW to SLASH Fuel Crisis

President Trump weighs a rare Jones Act waiver to battle skyrocketing fuel prices from the Iran war, prioritizing American families over rigid regulations in a time of crisis.

Story Highlights

Trump administration considers 30-60 day suspension of 1920s-era Jones Act amid Iran conflict-driven oil surge.
Gas prices hit $3.60/gallon, diesel $4.89/gallon—highest in years—threatening family budgets after Biden-era inflation.
Waiver would unleash foreign tankers to boost U.S. energy transport, easing shortages on East and West Coasts.
Temporary measure framed as national defense, paired with massive Strategic Petroleum Reserve release.
Modest price relief projected (3-10 cents/gallon), balancing consumer needs against domestic shipping protections.

Iran War Sparks Fuel Crisis

U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran on February 28, 2026, disrupted global oil markets. Iran choked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for one-fifth of world oil flows. Brent crude surged 8% past $100 per barrel from $60 in January. West Texas Intermediate hit $95.02 per barrel, up nearly 9%. National gasoline averaged $3.60 per gallon, the highest since May 2024. Diesel reached $4.89 per gallon, highest since late 2022. Families face renewed pain from past fiscal mismanagement and globalist entanglements.

Jones Act Limits Exposed

The Jones Act, enacted in the 1920s, mandates U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, U.S.-owned vessels for domestic shipping. It safeguards national security and the American shipbuilding industry. Yet only 54 of 7,500 global tankers comply, driving up costs. This restriction hampers fuel movement from Gulf Coast refineries to Northeast and West Coast markets. Past waivers occurred only in disasters like Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Sandy. Today’s crisis mirrors those emergencies, demanding pragmatic action for energy independence.

Trump’s Decisive Response

On March 12-13, 2026, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced consideration of a temporary waiver. “In the interest of national defense, the White House is considering waiving the Jones Act for a limited period to ensure vital energy products flow freely to U.S. ports,” she stated on Fox News. Duration targets 30-60 days. Concurrently, Trump released 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the largest International Energy Agency emergency draw ever. Officials call the spike “short-term disruption for long-term gain,” shielding Americans from war’s fallout.

Homeland Security and Defense Secretaries hold waiver authority under national defense provisions. Energy firms and consumers stand to gain from cheaper transport. U.S. shipbuilders and shipping companies oppose, fearing foreign competition. Congress holds oversight, though details remain sparse.

President Trump waives Jones Act for 60 days in effort to ease energy prices. https://t.co/FkRisX7GQH

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 18, 2026

Projected Relief and Tradeoffs

Analysts forecast modest gains. Center for American Progress sees 3 cents per gallon gasoline relief. Others predict 5-10 cents slowdown in rises. One study projects East Coast drops: gasoline $0.63, diesel $0.82, jet fuel $0.80 per barrel. Waiver expands capacity for oil, gasoline, diesel, LNG, and fertilizer. Short-term aid outweighs long-term risks to domestic industry, given temporary scope. Peter Harrell, ex-Biden official, deems it “small but useful.” Cato’s Colin Grabow blasts Jones Act restrictions on energy transport. Relief prioritizes working families over special interests.