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Trump Cites Security to Freeze Offshore Wind; Judges Reject

7/17/2026

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Trump Halts Offshore

The Trump administration invoked a classified national-security report to pause offshore wind projects on the U.S. East Coast.
President Donald Trump ordered the Interior Department to halt construction on five offshore wind farms and to repurchase their leases.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Defense Department’s classified analysis warns turbines disrupt radar and sonar.
Federal judges let five projects resume, noting Judge Royce Lamberth warned claim may be pretextual.

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Pentagon Permit Freeze

Senior Judge Royce Lambert warned the Pentagon’s security rationale might be pretextual in a federal court ruling.
The Pentagon has frozen permitting for 155 onshore wind projects in 24 states nationwide.
Developers say the freeze adds $2 billion in costs and threatens federal tax-credit eligibility for projects.
Renewable groups sued the Defense Department after 55 Democratic reps were denied a confidential briefing.

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Trump Halts Offshore

The Trump administration invoked a classified national-security report to pause offshore wind projects on the U.S. East Coast.
President Donald Trump ordered the Interior Department to halt construction on five offshore wind farms and to repurchase their leases.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Defense Department’s classified analysis warns turbines disrupt radar and sonar.
Federal judges let five projects resume, noting Judge Royce Lamberth warned claim may be pretextual.

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