Trump Administration Halts Major Offshore Wind Projects, Citing National Security Risks

The Trump administration has abruptly paused five major offshore wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean, citing unspecified "national security risks" identified in classified Pentagon reports. The move, announced Monday, casts significant new doubt on the future of the U.S. renewable energy industry and reflects President Donald Trump's long-standing hostility toward wind power.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s comments on X suggested motives beyond national security. He blasted the projects as "expensive, unreliable, heavily subsidized offshore wind farms," adding that "ONE natural gas pipeline supplies as much energy as these 5 projects COMBINED." This aligns with President Trump's personal disdain for windmills, which he has called "ugly monsters" that ruin views. In January, his administration tried to block all new wind permits on federal lands, a ban a judge ruled illegal earlier this month.

Industry Reeling from Sudden Halt

The five projects—located off the coasts of Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York—were slated to power millions of homes. Dominion Energy, developer of the massive Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (CVOW), confirmed it was ordered to suspend work for 90 days. The company warned the halt will "lead to energy inflation and threaten thousands of jobs," noting the project has been in development for over a decade with military coordination. According to its website, all turbine foundations for the CVOW project were installed by October 2025.

The move drew immediate criticism. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she is working with other impacted states "to review every available option to get these projects back on track." The financial markets reacted swiftly. Dominion Energy's stock fell roughly 4.5% in afternoon trading, while shares in Danish energy giant Ørsted, a partner in another affected project, plummeted 11% in Copenhagen.