In a dramatic escalation of the federal government’s scrutiny of renewable energy infrastructure, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has issued an immediate Stop Work Order on all five major offshore wind projects currently under construction along the East Coast. The move suspends billions of dollars in active leases and effectively freezes the backbone of America’s offshore wind buildout.
The administration has characterized the justification for the decision as classified, citing sensitive national security concerns identified in a recently completed Department of Defense report now referred to in some official communications as the Department of War.
The Classified Rationale: Radar and Defense Risks
While the full report remains secret, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and DOI officials provided a high-level explanation. The central concern is radar interference, often referred to as “radar clutter.” According to the government, the massive rotating turbine blades and reflective towers can obscure real targets, generate false signals, and degrade coastal surveillance systems.
Officials also cited the rapid evolution of adversary technologies, including low-flying drones and stealth assets, which are harder to detect when radar performance is compromised. The proximity of offshore wind farms to major population centers and critical military installations along the East Coast was described as an unacceptable vulnerability under current threat assessments.
Projects Frozen Mid-Construction
The stop-work order impacts approximately $28 billion in committed capital and halts five high-profile projects already well into construction:
- Vineyard Wind 1 (Massachusetts) – partially operational and generating power
- Revolution Wind (RI/CT) – roughly 80% complete
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) – the largest U.S. offshore wind project, nearly 70% complete
- Empire Wind 1 (New York) – over 60% complete
- Sunrise Wind (New York) – in advanced construction stages
Legal Strategy and Political Context
The decision comes just two weeks after a federal judge struck down the administration’s earlier Day One ban on new wind permits, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.” By grounding the pause in classified national security findings, the administration has adopted a legal strategy that courts are historically reluctant to challenge, as judges rarely override Pentagon assessments.
Secretary Burgum has defended the move publicly, labeling offshore wind projects “expensive, unreliable, subsidy-dependent schemes” and arguing that they cannot match the stability of natural gas infrastructure.
Industry Backlash and Economic Fallout
Wind developers such as Orsted and Equinor, along with industry groups like the Oceantic Network, argue that these projects already passed years of Department of Defense reviews before construction began. They claim the newly cited risks are politically motivated rather than technical.
Economists warn the pause could eliminate over 10,000 jobs, delay grid stabilization, and increase energy costs in Virginia and New England, especially as demand rises from AI data centers and electrification.
What Happens Next?
The stop-work order remains in effect indefinitely. While the government says it will assess possible mitigation measures, no timeline for resuming construction has been provided, leaving the future of U.S. offshore wind uncertain.
