Donald Trump's administration issued an executive order aimed at halting all wind-energy leases and permits. The administration attempted to issue stop-work orders on wind projects under construction and paid over $2.6 billion in settlements to buy out wind energy leases.

In August 2024, a stop-work order was issued on the Revolution Wind Project. A federal court granted an injunction in September 2024 to block this order. In December 2024, the Trump administration issued another 90-day stop-work order on the Revolution Wind Project, citing national security. A second judge issued an injunction against this order in January 2025.

Will Gonzalez, a construction laborer, worked on the Vinyard Wind 1 project, which the Trump administration attempted to halt in January 2025. Union representatives criticized the administration's actions. Pat Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, called it a "foolish policy" to buy out leases. "These projects are not only helping to reduce our carbon emissions, they're providing good-paying union jobs for thousands," Crowley said. Crowley also said the administration had lost court challenges on five wind projects in the Rhode Island area, adding, "We're five for five taking on the Trump administration."

A spokesperson for the US Department of Interior denied that the cancellation and stop-work orders impacted jobs, even for projects under construction when halted. The spokesperson said, "No jobs were eliminated because none of these leases were operational or supporting employment." The spokesperson added, "Rather than waiting years for the projects to materialize, the Trump administration is prioritizing investments in existing infrastructure and functioning supply chains that can create jobs now and deliver economic benefits faster." They also stated, "This approach puts more people to work more quickly, using proven, affordable, and reliable energy rather than relying on projects tied to leases that were not producing jobs in the first place."

In March 2025, Revolution Wind announced it began delivering power to New England, citing the work of over 1,000 local union workers. The US Department of Interior completed four deals to cancel wind project leases, including paying $765 million to Invenergy to abandon four projects and nearly $900 million to Bluepoint Wind and Garden State Wind to cancel offshore leases. In June 2025, the Trump administration abandoned efforts to halt all wind projects and leases across the US, giving up a court challenge to a judge's decision to freeze all permitting and leasing.

Why It Matters

The Trump administration's policy decisions regarding offshore wind projects resulted in financial expenditures and legal battles. Over $2.6 billion was paid in settlements and lease buyouts, and the administration faced multiple injunctions against its stop-work orders. These actions drew criticism from union leaders who emphasized the job creation and environmental benefits of wind energy, showing a conflict between the administration's stance and the interests of labor organizations involved in renewable energy development.