R Street Joins Coalition Calling for Permanent Jones Act Repeal

May 6, 2026

Dear Members of Congress,

We commend President Trump’s decision to issue an additional 90-day suspension of the century-old Jones Act, and we ask Congress to make the suspension permanent by repealing this outdated law.

The Jones Act requires cargo shipped domestically to be carried on vessels that are U.S.-built, owned, and flagged and crewed by Americans. While originally intended to strengthen American maritime capabilities, it has become a costly, counterproductive barrier to efficient commerce.

Its repeal is long overdue.

President Trump’s recent waiver to “allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports” underscores the need to repeal this law permanently. Without the Jones Act, markets will function better, supply will increase, and costs will decline. By contrast, every day the law remains in force it constrains supply, stifles competition, and drives up costs for American families. These impacts fall especially hard on residents of noncontiguous states and territories such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Beyond its economic toll on average Americans, the Jones Act represents a departure from free-market principles. It distorts competition, protects entrenched interests, and has failed to deliver on its central promise of a robust domestic maritime fleet. A couple of examples.

Today, of the roughly 7,500 oil tankers operating globally, only 54 comply with Jones Act requirements. The situation is worse when it comes to Jones Act-compliant liquid natural gas tankers. We have none the one currently operating to supply Puerto Rico does so only under an exemption because it was foreign-made. The U.S. can ship natural gas to some 30 countries globally but cannot ship it from one part of the U.S. to another.

The current U.S.-Iran engagement and resulting energy disruptions underscore the urgency of the temporary waiver. But long after the worldwide energy disruptions are gone, the Jones Act will still be making everything cost more – unless it is repealed.

With President Trump’s tremendous leadership, we are confident that Congress can take action to end the Jones Act and help lower the cost of living for all Americans.

For a full list of signatories, see the original letter below: