The Trump administration’s temporary Jones Act waiver is reshaping U.S. energy logistics by allowing foreign-flagged tankers to move crude oil and refined products between domestic ports. Following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis, more than 60 waiver-approved shipments have transported fuel between U.S. regions, including significant volumes to California. The waiver has increased reliance on Gulf Coast supplies to support the West Coast, East Coast, Florida, and Puerto Rico amid changing trade flows. While energy companies cite improved flexibility during supply disruptions, the policy has raised concerns from the U.S. maritime sector over impacts to domestic shipping, shipbuilding capacity, and mariner jobs.
