Posted on June 15, 2026
Congressional opposition to the Jones Act waiver is growing as American shipbuilding and maritime investment stall amid increasing uncertainty created by the extended waiver.
There has been some positive momentum over the past week in support of America’s maritime industrial base.
At the U.S. Department of Labor, Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling highlighted the importance of the shipbuilding workforce, stating: “From welders and electricians to engineers and apprentices, America’s shipbuilders are helping write the next chapter of American manufacturing.”
The Department of Energy and the White House also announced a new coal initiative expected to create approximately 14,000 jobs, including maritime employment opportunities.
That said, in Mississippi, River Boat captains and crew are worried about their jobs, Jones Act jobs, that have been in their families for generations. River Boat Captain Curtis Wilkerson told the local news station KFVS 12. “It’s a terrible situation. And when there’s 650,000 jobs, and not counting the ones that support the vessels and all the local communities, vendors — I said it’s just a lot of uncertainty there,” Wilkerson added.
At the same time, support for the Jones Act continues to grow across Congress and the Administration.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew recently reaffirmed that the Jones Act ensures domestic commerce is carried by American-built, American-owned, American-flagged, and American-crewed vessels, stating, “That’s what we want – America First.”
During a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on the Department of Energy’s FY2027 budget, Rep. Randy Weber told Secretary Chris Wright, “we wanna make sure that our great maritime industry, we get the Jones Act back in place quickly as we can.”
We remain hopeful the Trump Administration will recognize that the Jones Act waiver is not improving affordability for American consumers, but it is harming American jobs, maritime investment, and industrial growth.
The economic warning signs are becoming increasingly clear. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York noted in the June 2026 Beige Book that the extended Jones Act waiver is having a chilling effect on investment, with maritime companies pausing projects and capital commitments.
According to Adams and Reese Maritime Analysis, a major U.S. maritime investment platform has already halted a planned $1 billion investment, while industry discussions regarding domestic tanker fleet renewal have stalled.
The Shipbuilders Council of America has likewise warned that the waiver is disrupting momentum across the industry, placing more than $2.6 billion in active shipyard contracts and planned expansions at risk.
America’s maritime industry is ready to invest, build, hire, and grow.
End the Jones Act Waiver. Put Americans back to work.
