The Trump administration announced Monday it would immediately pause leasing for five large offshore wind projects along the East Coast, citing national security risks identified by the Pentagon.
The Pause and Its Context
The decision, effective right away, is the latest move by the administration to curb offshore wind development. It follows a federal judge’s ruling two weeks earlier that declared President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects unlawful. Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated the Jan. 20 order that had halted leasing and permitting for wind projects on federal lands and waters.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the pause will give the Interior Department time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects. In his statement, Burgum wrote, “The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people. Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers.” The statement did not provide specific details about the risks.
Projects Affected
The leases that are now paused include:
- Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts
- Revolution Wind in Rhode Island and Connecticut
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind
- Sunrise Wind in New York
- Empire Wind in New York
Wind proponents have criticized the move as another blow against clean energy. “For nearly a year, the Trump administration has recklessly obstructed the build-out of clean, affordable power for millions of Americans, just as the country’s need for electricity is surging,” said Ted Kelly of the Environmental Defense Fund. Kelly added that the administration’s actions “should not be kneecapping America’s largest source of renewable power, especially when we need more cheap, homegrown electricity.” He also noted that the administration is “propping up aging, expensive coal plants that barely work and pollute our air.”
Security Rationale
The Interior Department cited unclassified reports that have long found the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers of offshore wind projects can create radar interference known as “clutter.” This clutter can obscure legitimate moving targets and generate false targets near wind projects, according to the department.
National security expert and former Commander of the USS Cole Kirk Lippold weighed in on the permitting process. He said the projects were awarded permits after years of review by state and federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, the Air Force, and more. “The record of decisions all show that the Department of Defense was consulted at every stage of the permitting process,” Lippold said, arguing that the projects would benefit national security by diversifying the country’s energy supply.
Legal and Industry Reactions
The pause comes two weeks after Judge Saris declared Trump’s executive order unlawful. The judge ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who had challenged Trump’s Day One order that paused leasing and permitting for wind energy projects.
Wind supporters called the administration’s actions illegal and said offshore wind provides some of the most affordable, reliable electric power to the grid. “Trying again to halt these projects tramples on the rule of law, threatens jobs and deliberately sabotages a critical industry that strengthens – not weakens – America’s energy security,” said Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice president for law and policy at the Conservation Law Foundation, a Boston-based environmental group.
Key Takeaways
- The Trump administration paused leasing for five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast, citing national security risks identified by the Pentagon.
- The pause follows a federal judge’s ruling that declared Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects unlawful.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized protecting the American people and addressing emerging security risks, though specifics were not disclosed.
- Wind proponents and environmental groups have condemned the move as illegal and harmful to clean-energy progress.
The decision marks a significant setback for offshore wind development on the East Coast and underscores the ongoing tension between national security concerns and renewable energy expansion.
