Trump Admin Pauses Five Wind Turbine Projects Over ‘National Security Risks’

The Trump administration “paused” five offshore wind leases on Monday over concerns that they would interfere with military radars.

Specifically, the federal government cited “clutter” from the motion of the “massive turbine blades” and the “highly reflective towers,” according to a press release from the Interior Department.

“The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Monday.

“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 Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people,” he continued.

Burgum said that “ONE natural gas pipeline supplies as much energy as these 5 projects COMBINED.”

The Interior Department said that its pause will affect the Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind 1 leases. All of the wind projects are along the East Coast. Vineyard Wind 1, Sunrise, and Revolution Wind are located off the coast of New England, and Empire Wind is off the coast of New York.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) slammed the decision by the administration, saying that they “will look for any excuse to continue its assault on clean energy — and the thousands of good-paying jobs these projects bring — but there is no credible justification for this stoppage.”

“The real threat to national security is in undermining our energy independence,” Hochul continued. “We are working with other impacted states to review every available option to get these projects back on track.”

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President Donald Trump has been a fierce advocate against wind power as a source of energy and instead favors natural gas, oil, and nuclear power.

“Windmills are an economic and environmental disaster. I don’t want even one built during my Administration,” he posted to Truth Social in January. “The thousands of dead and broken ones should be ripped down ASAP. Most expensive energy, only work with massive government subsidies, which we will no longer pay!”

In an August post to Truth Social, he also voiced his opposition to solar power.

“Any State that has built and relied on WINDMILLS and SOLAR for power are seeing RECORD BREAKING INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY COSTS. THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY! We will not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar. The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!! MAGA,” the president wrote, which prompted the Solar and Storage Industries Association to respond on X, POLITICO reported at the time.

“The real scam is blaming solar for fossil fuel price spikes,” the association stated. “Farmers, families, and businesses choose solar to save money, preserve land, and escape high costs of the old, dirty fuels being forced on them by this administration.”