The RecordExhibit 112
Stop-work orders for offshore wind farms already under construction
Ruled unlawful means: A court ruled against it. Some rulings are on appeal.
The Interior Department ordered construction halted on Empire Wind off New York in April 2025, on Revolution Wind off Rhode Island in August, and on Dec. 22, 2025, on all five offshore wind farms being built in federal waters, citing national security.
What happened
Several projects were nearly finished: Revolution Wind had 58 of its 65 turbines installed, and Vineyard Wind was 95% complete and already sending power to the grid. Revolution Wind's developer said the halt cost it more than $2 million a day. The first Empire Wind order was lifted after a month of lobbying. On his first day in office, Trump had also frozen all new offshore wind leasing and permitting.
Where it stands
Courts have ruled against every order. In September 2025 and again on Jan. 12, 2026, Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, found the Revolution Wind halts likely unlawful, calling the second one arbitrary and capricious and finding that supposedly new classified information did not explain stopping the work. By Feb. 2, 2026, all five projects had won injunctions, and a Massachusetts judge had declared the permitting freeze illegal in December 2025. The administration then missed its deadline to appeal.
The administration's side
The administration said the halts addressed national security concerns, including classified information it provided to the courts. Trump has opposed offshore wind since his first day in office.
Sources
Permanent link: https://unredactedrecord.com/e/wind/