National Security Review Freezes Major U.S. Offshore Wind Projects
The Trump administration has ordered an immediate pause on all large-scale offshore wind projects currently under construction in the United States, citing newly identified national security risks linked to radar interference along the East Coast. The Department of the Interior said the decision follows classified assessments by the Department of War, which raised concerns about how offshore wind installations may affect military and civilian radar systems.
The pause applies to five major offshore wind projects currently under construction: Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, CVOW Commercial, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind 1. According to the Interior Department, the review period will allow federal agencies to work with developers and state authorities to assess whether the identified risks can be mitigated. No timeline has been set for when the pause may be lifted.
Radar Interference and Offshore Wind
At the centre of the administration’s concerns is the interaction between offshore wind turbines and radar systems. Unclassified government reports have previously found that the large, moving turbine blades and highly reflective towers can create radar “clutter,” producing false targets or obscuring real ones.
The Department of Energy has acknowledged that while some technical adjustments can reduce this interference, raising radar detection thresholds may also increase the risk of missing genuine threats. Officials argue this trade-off is particularly sensitive near population centres, military installations, and major airports along the East Coast.
Speaking to Fox News, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the issue reflects changes in modern defence systems, including the growing importance of drone detection. He argued that large offshore wind farms could complicate radar coverage in coastal regions if not properly addressed.
Energy System Implications
The pause affects offshore wind projects representing around 5–6 gigawatts of planned electricity capacity, much of which was intended to supply densely populated coastal states with low-carbon power, where land for onshore renewables is limited. Under the Biden administration, offshore wind was positioned as a key source of generation.
The current administration, however, has taken a different view of offshore wind’s role in the power system. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has questioned the technology’s reliability and cost, highlighting its intermittency and reliance on international supply chains. He has argued that domestic natural gas offers a more dependable and scalable option for meeting electricity demand.
Supporters of offshore wind maintain that the projects would help diversify the generation mix and reduce emissions in regions with limited alternatives. Critics counter that grid reliability, affordability, and national security considerations should take priority when assessing large-scale energy infrastructure.
What Happens Next
The administration has framed the move as a temporary pause rather than a permanent cancellation. Federal agencies say they will use the review period to explore whether technical or operational changes could reduce radar impacts while allowing projects to proceed.
For now, construction activity on the affected offshore wind farms is halted, adding uncertainty to the future of the sector under the current administration. The outcome of the review will likely shape how offshore wind fits into the U.S. energy system going forward, particularly as security considerations are weighed alongside cost, reliability, emissions goals, and the role of federal incentives supporting offshore wind deployment.