AMP Launches Campaign Opposing Jones Act Waiver

Why It Matters

The waiver threatens U.S. maritime jobs, billions in domestic shipbuilding investment, and national security by sidelining American‑built, crewed vessels.

Key Takeaways

• AMP urges Trump to end 150‑day Jones Act waiver.
• Waiver saves only $0.000157 per gallon, negligible fuel price impact.
• Foreign carriers profit while U.S. vessels idle on 90% of routes.
• $1 billion capital raise halted; $2.6 billion shipyard contracts at risk.
• Campaign targets key maritime states via TV, radio, digital ads.

Pulse Analysis

The Jones Act, enacted in 1920, mandates that any vessel transporting goods between U.S. ports be built, owned and crewed by Americans. In early 2024 the Trump administration invoked an unprecedented 150‑day waiver, arguing that foreign‑flagged ships could alleviate fuel‑price pressures amid volatile energy markets. Critics, however, point out that the law also serves as a strategic bulwark for national security, ensuring a domestic fleet capable of supporting military logistics and disaster response. The waiver therefore sparked a clash between short‑term price rhetoric and long‑term maritime policy.

Independent analysis estimates the waiver’s impact on gasoline at a paltry $0.000157 per gallon, a figure too small to influence consumer costs. Meanwhile, data from industry brokers reveal that U.S.-flagged vessels were available for roughly 90 % of the routes now serviced by foreign carriers, indicating a missed opportunity for domestic operators. The uncertainty surrounding a possible extension has already prompted at least one investment platform to suspend a $1 billion capital raise, putting more than $2.6 billion in shipyard contracts and future expansion projects in jeopardy.

AMP’s new campaign leverages television, connected TV, radio and digital platforms to rally support in states such as Louisiana, Florida and Virginia, where maritime employment is a critical economic driver. By amplifying the voices of the 650,000 workers in the sector, the partnership hopes to pressure the White House into rescinding the waiver and restoring the Jones Act’s protective framework. If successful, the move could stabilize domestic shipbuilding pipelines, safeguard thousands of jobs, and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to a sovereign maritime capability.