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Energy Secretary Signals Another Jones Act Waiver Extension Amid Fuel Price Pressures

Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated Tuesday that the White House will likely extend the Jones Act waiver beyond its August 16 expiration, citing early success in reducing energy costs across California and the broader U.S. market.

Wright, speaking in Brownsville, Texas, projected fuel prices would decline in coming weeks as the administration seeks to address persistent political pressure over gasoline costs averaging above $4 per gallon nationally.

The current exemption has become the longest Jones Act suspension on record. By waiving requirements that cargo between U.S. ports be carried on ships built and owned domestically, the administration aims to increase the pool of available tankers and lower transport expenses that reach consumers at the pump.

While industry analysts suggest the waiver's price impact remains modest—measured in pennies per gallon—critics argue the exemption has produced negligible results. They contend it undermines America's merchant marine sector. The administration views the extension as consistent with its market-oriented economic philosophy.