In 1802, in response to Jefferson's request for authority to deal with the pirates, Congress passed "An act for the protection of commerce and seamen of the United States against the Tripolitan cruisers", authorizing the President to "…employ such of the armed vessels of the United States as may be judged requisite… for protecting effectually the commerce and seamen thereof on the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and adjoining seas."
Godine 1802. kao odgovor na Jeffersonov zahtjev za autoritetom kako bi se obračunao s piratima, Kongres je donio Zakon o zaštiti trgovine i pomoraca SAD-a protiv krstarica iz Tripolija prema kojem je Predsjedniku omogućeno "slanje naoružanih brodica SAD-a prema potrebi, a u svrhu zaštite efektivne trgovine i pomoraca u Atlantskom oceanu, Mediteranu i susjednim morima".