A major conservative-backed advocacy group is mounting a new political push aimed at permanently repealing the Jones Act, a century-old U.S. maritime law that governs domestic coastal shipping.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the flagship policy organisation supported by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch, has announced plans for a six-figure digital advertising campaign urging Congress to eliminate the legislation, which requires cargo moved between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are U.S.-built, owned, crewed and flagged.
The campaign comes after President Donald Trump temporarily suspended enforcement of the Jones Act for a limited period earlier this year, citing concerns that geopolitical tensions involving Iran could lead to fuel shortages and price spikes for essential goods such as fuel and fertilizer. The waiver was later extended, allowing foreign-flag vessels to operate between U.S. domestic ports, including shipments from the Gulf Coast to eastern markets.
While analysts noted the waiver led to a modest increase in shipping flexibility, it did not significantly reduce fuel prices for consumers in the short term. At the same time, it created uncertainty for domestic maritime operators and workers in the U.S.-flag coastal shipping sector.
The Jones Act has long been a point of contention in U.S. trade and energy policy. Critics argue that it raises transportation costs and limits competition, while supporters view it as essential for maintaining a domestic maritime workforce and shipbuilding industry.
Wichita-based Koch Industries, a diversified conglomerate with annual revenues of approximately $125 billion and interests spanning refining, chemicals and fertilizer production, stands to benefit from potential regulatory changes to coastal shipping rules.
AFP stated that the law continues to “needlessly drive up the cost of fuel, food, and energy for American families,” and said its campaign will combine targeted digital advertising with grassroots efforts encouraging citizens to contact members of Congress.
The advocacy effort is also timed against a backdrop of rising inflation and cost-of-living concerns in the United States, which are expected to play a significant role in upcoming midterm elections. The organisation previously supported a coalition letter dated May 6 calling for repeal of the Jones Act as part of a broader affordability agenda.
AFP Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner said the law has effectively acted as a hidden cost burden on consumers for decades. He argued that policymakers cannot claim to support affordability while maintaining legislation that requires repeated temporary suspensions during periods of economic stress.
According to Gardner, “with a single vote, Congress can lower costs for every household in the country,” describing repeal as a necessary step to reduce structural inefficiencies in domestic shipping.
The campaign will focus on key congressional districts, particularly targeting members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as senators who have publicly prioritised cost reduction for households. AFP said the objective is to build sustained political momentum toward full legislative repeal.
The group also pointed to recent waiver activity as evidence that foreign vessels were able to supplement rather than displace the existing U.S.-flag fleet during the suspension period, reinforcing its argument that the law may not be essential for maintaining domestic supply continuity.
