---
title: "White House to extend Jones Act waiver amid record fuel prices"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/business/white-house-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-amid-record-fuel-prices"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/white-house-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-amid-record-fuel-prices"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/white-house-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-amid-record-fuel-prices.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/white-house-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-amid-record-fuel-prices"
category: "Business & Economy"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-08-05T11:47:01.797Z"
source_reported: "2026-08-05T07:42:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-08-05T13:15:13.141Z"
trust_score: 65
critic_score: 55
hype_score: 30
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-08-05T14:00:40.933071+00:00"
---

# White House to extend Jones Act waiver amid record fuel prices

*The exemption, used nearly 200 times since March, is set to be renewed before its 16 August expiry*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 65 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports corroborate the waiver extension; digests agree on key details.
- Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Full reports quote sources and provide context; digests lack depth.
- Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Headlines emphasize urgency but body remains measured.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- The White House will extend a waiver of the Jones Act, which mandates US-built, owned and crewed vessels for domestic shipping, before its 16 August expiry.
- The current waiver has been used nearly 200 times since March, the longest suspension in the programme’s history.
- Critics, including maritime industry groups and Republican lawmakers, argue the waiver benefits foreign operators and undermines domestic shipping interests.
- Gasoline prices remain above $4 a gallon, limiting the administration’s options to lower costs before the November midterm elections.

The White House is set to extend a waiver of the Jones Act, a century-old law requiring cargo shipped between US ports to use vessels built, owned and crewed by Americans. The current waiver, which expires on 16 August, has been used nearly 200 times since late March, the longest suspension in the programme’s history. The extension aims to ease fuel transport bottlenecks as gasoline prices exceed $4 a gallon nationwide.

The Jones Act waiver was introduced to increase shipping flexibility and reduce fuel costs. Government data shows it has been applied nearly 200 times over four and a half months. Critics, including maritime industry groups and Republican lawmakers, argue the waiver benefits foreign operators, including those linked to China and Russia, while undermining domestic shipping capacity. Administration officials are discussing potential geographic limits and tighter scrutiny on shipments.

President Donald Trump has publicly pressured oil companies, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, to lower prices, accusing them of making "too much money". The administration has few remaining options to reduce gasoline costs before the November midterm elections. Analysts say the Jones Act waiver may only lower prices by pennies per gallon, while other measures, such as a windfall profits tax or price controls, are politically or economically unviable.

The Independent’s report led on the administration’s efforts to curb rising gasoline prices and the political pressure on oil companies. It quoted Bob McNally of Rapidan Energy Group, who said the waiver would likely reduce prices by only pennies per gallon. The report also detailed criticisms from maritime industry groups, including the American Maritime Partnership, which argued the waiver benefits foreign operators over domestic shipping interests.

The Economic Times, Reuters and WTVB all reported the White House’s expected extension of the waiver as a measure to hold down gasoline prices. The Economic Times included Trump’s criticism of Exxon Mobil and Chevron for making "too much money". Reuters and WTVB noted the waiver’s record length and the administration’s discussions with maritime industry representatives and lawmakers about narrowing its scope.

The Times of India, Yonhap News Agency and Globo’s digests all framed the waiver extension as a response to high gasoline prices and Trump’s pressure on oil companies. The Times of India and Globo highlighted criticisms that the waiver benefits foreign operators and undermines domestic maritime interests. Yonhap noted the administration’s consideration of further extensions amid soaring fuel costs.

None of the right-rated digests mentioned the number of times the waiver has been used, a figure carried by the centre-rated Reuters and WTVB digests and the left-rated Independent report. The Independent was the only outlet to quote an energy analyst on the waiver’s limited impact on gasoline prices. The Economic Times did not include criticisms from maritime industry groups or Republican lawmakers.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 15 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 13% (2)
- Centre: 27% (4)
- Right: 60% (9)

4 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-05T14:00:40.933071+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 2 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-05T14:30:17.160Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Both reports state the White House will extend the Jones Act waiver, set to expire on 16 August 2026, to address fuel prices averaging over $4 a gallon. They note the waiver has been used nearly 200 times since March and is the longest suspension in the programme’s history.
- The Independent and Time Magazine led on the political pressure to lower prices before the November midterms. Both quoted Energy Secretary Chris Wright saying the waiver had helped move energy domestically. The Independent included industry criticism that the waiver weakens the domestic fleet; Time added that maritime companies argue it does little to reduce prices.
- Both reports carried Trump’s call for Exxon Mobil and Chevron to return profits to consumers. The Independent quoted analyst Bob McNally saying the waiver would cut prices by only pennies per gallon; Time did not include that estimate. Neither report quoted a maritime industry representative.

### Centre

- The centre-rated reports agree the White House will extend a Jones Act waiver to reduce fuel prices. All four outlets state the decision is expected within days. Three of the four name President Donald Trump as the driving force behind the move.
- Reuters and WTVB’s digests lead on the administration’s effort to lower gasoline costs. The Economic Times report adds that critics are pushing for limits on the waiver. gCaptain’s digest quotes Energy Secretary Chris Wright saying the waiver has helped move energy supplies.
- None of the centre-rated digests mention the duration of the extension or the specific price impact cited by other outlets. The Economic Times report does not include voices from labour unions or shipping industry representatives, who are quoted in left-rated coverage.

### Right

No separate framing summary.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- low: 2
- mixed: 3
- high: 7
- unknown: 5
- veryHigh: 2

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/white-house-set-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-as-trump-hunts-for-cheaper-gasoline/articleshow/132903032.cms) — White House set to extend Jones Act waiver as Trump hunts for cheaper gasoline
- [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/white-house-set-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-as-trump-hunts-for-cheaper-gasoline/articleshow/132903032.cms) — White House set to extend Jones Act waiver as Trump hunts for cheaper gasoline
- [Yeshiva World News](https://theyeshivaworld.com/news/liveblogs/live-blog/2582543/white-house-trump-administration-preparing-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-to-help-lower-gas-prices-report-says.html) — WHITE HOUSE: Trump Administration Preparing to Extend Jones Act Waiver to Help Lower Gas Prices, Report Says
- [Time Magazine](https://time.com/article/2026/08/05/jones-act-waiver-fuel-gas-costs-maritime-industry-iran-war) — What to Know About the Jones Act Waiver as Trump Admin Seeks to Lower Gas Prices
- [gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/energy-secretary-signals-trump-likely-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-again) — Energy Secretary Signals Trump Likely to Extend Jones Act Waiver Again
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-gas-prices-jones-act-waiver-b3027475.html) — Trump administration to extend Jones Act waiver to lower gas prices
- [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260805003900071) — U.S. Likely to Further Extend 'Jones Act Suspension' Amid Soaring Gasoline Prices
- [Globo](https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/08/04/casa-branca-deve-prorrogar-flexibilizao-da-regra-para-transporte-martimo-nos-eua.ghtml) — White House Should Extend the Flexibility of the Rule for Shipping in the USA
- [Portfolio](https://portfolio.hu/global/20260804/trump-mindent-bevet-az-olcso-benzinert-egy-evszazados-torvenyt-is-felresopor-854114) — Trump Is Doing Everything He Can to Ensure Cheap Gasoline: He Even Sweeps Aside a Century-Old Law
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/04d81387d15d4167) — White House set to extend Jones Act waiver as Trump hunts for cheaper gasoline
- [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/08/04/exclusive-white-house-set-to-extend-jones-act-waiver-as-trump-hunts-for-cheaper-gasoline) — Exclusive-White House set to extend Jones Act waiver as Trump hunts for cheaper gasoline
- [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/energy/white-house-set-extend-jones-act-waiver-trump-hunts-cheaper-gasoline-2026-08-04) — EXCLUSIVE: White House set to extend Jones Act waiver as Trump hunts for cheaper gasoline
- [Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion](https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/white-house-weighs-extending-jones-act-waiver-as-oil-prices-remain-elevated) — White House Weighs Extending Jones Act Waiver as Oil Prices Remain Elevated
- [Richmond Times-Dispatch](https://richmond.com/article_78741c5c-7b87-5fe1-9cd6-41d413eb3bf3.html) — Jones Act waiver has benefited Americans
- [TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news](https://tradewindsnews.com/tankers/-we-re-fully-utilised-kirby-sees-almost-no-impact-from-jones-act-waiver/2-1-2023733) — ‘We’re fully utilised’: Kirby sees almost no impact from Jones Act waiver
- [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/07/31/trumps-jones-act-waiver-helped-avert-fuel-shortages-across-these-key-us-regions) — Trump’s Jones Act Waiver Helped Avert Fuel Shortages Across These Key US Regions
- [TFTC](https://tftc.io/jones-act-waiver-50-million-barrels-hidden-energy-tax) — Jones Act Waiver Exposes 100 Years of Hidden Energy Tax
- [Zero Hedge](https://zerohedge.com/energy/trumps-jones-act-waiver-helped-avert-fuel-shortages-across-these-key-us-regions) — Trump's Jones Act Waiver Helped Avert Fuel Shortages Across These Key US Regions
- [Coalition For A Prosperous America](https://prosperousamerica.org/the-jones-act-an-america-first-law-waived-for-chinas-benefit) — The Jones Act: An America First Law, Waived for China’s Benefit

## Questions

**What is the Jones Act and why is it being waived?**

The Jones Act requires cargo shipped between US ports to use vessels built, owned and crewed by Americans. The White House is waiving it to ease fuel transport bottlenecks and lower gasoline prices, which have exceeded $4 a gallon. The waiver has been used nearly 200 times since March, a record for the programme.

**How much will the Jones Act waiver reduce gasoline prices?**

Energy analyst Bob McNally, quoted by the Independent, said the waiver would likely reduce gasoline prices by only pennies per gallon. The measure is one of the few tools the administration has to address high fuel costs ahead of the November midterm elections.

**Who opposes the Jones Act waiver extension?**

Maritime industry groups, including the American Maritime Partnership, and Republican lawmakers oppose the waiver. They argue it benefits foreign operators, including those linked to China and Russia, and undermines domestic shipping interests. Some are pushing for geographic limits and tighter scrutiny on shipments.

---

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