The Trump administration has ordered an immediate halt to lease agreements for five major offshore wind developments currently under construction along the United States' East Coast. The dramatic move, announced on Monday 22 December 2025, follows warnings from the Pentagon about unspecified national security risks.
Security Concerns Prompt Immediate Action
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum confirmed the pause is effective immediately. The decision will allow the Interior Department, which manages offshore wind, to collaborate with the Defence Department and other agencies. Their goal is to assess and develop ways to mitigate the potential security threats these large-scale projects may pose.
The administration stated that its "prime duty" is to protect the American people. In a formal statement, Secretary Burgum elaborated that the action addresses emerging risks linked to evolving adversary technologies. He highlighted specific vulnerabilities created by the projects' proximity to densely populated areas on the east coast.
Which Major Projects Are Affected?
The pause directly impacts some of the most significant renewable energy initiatives in the region. The affected projects are:
- Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts.
- Revolution Wind serving Rhode Island and Connecticut.
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.
- Two New York projects: Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind.
These projects represent a substantial portion of the US's planned offshore wind capacity, making this pause a major setback for the nation's clean energy transition.
The Radar Interference Challenge
Officials pointed to a long-standing technical issue as a core part of the security assessment. Unclassified US government reports have consistently noted that the massive rotating turbine blades and their highly reflective support towers create significant radar interference, known as "clutter."
According to the Interior Department, this clutter has a dual effect: it can obscure legitimate moving targets, such as aircraft or ships, while simultaneously generating false targets in the airspace and waters surrounding wind farms. This presents a clear challenge for national defence and air traffic surveillance systems.
The sudden intervention throws the future timeline of these critical energy projects into uncertainty. It underscores the complex balancing act between accelerating renewable energy infrastructure and safeguarding national security interests, a debate that is now set to intensify.
