Trump Administration Stalls 165 Wind Farm Projects Citing National Security

Pentagon Halts Project Approvals

Onshore wind development in the United States has been brought to a standstill as the Trump administration cites national security concerns to stall approximately 165 projects. According to reports, approvals for these projects, located on private lands, are currently being held up by the Pentagon.

The affected projects vary in their stage of development; some were awaiting final sign-off, while others were in the middle of negotiations. Some of the stalled projects are those that typically would not have required oversight from the Pentagon.

National Security and Radar Interference

Letters sent to developers in early April stated that the Pentagon was reviewing its processes for evaluating how energy projects impact national security. This move follows a pattern of administration actions where national security risks—specifically radar interference caused by tall turbines—were cited as a reason to pause wind projects.

In a previous instance, the Department of the Interior claimed that turbines could hamper military operations by creating radar interference. While the department stated it would work with the U.S. Department of Defense on a workaround, previous attempts to pause construction on these grounds were overturned in court.

Broader Policy Shift

Since returning to office in January 2025, President Trump has implemented several measures to restrict wind energy. These include a temporary halt to leasing and permitting for wind energy projects and the cancellation of plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development. Additionally, the administration has added an extra layer of review for both wind and solar projects.

President Trump has publicly criticized wind turbines, describing them as "ugly, expensive and inefficient". The administration's shift in energy policy has also seen the allocation of nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money to end offshore wind projects.

Legal and Industry Response

Wind developers have faced repeated disruptions under the current administration. Some of the administration's initial "Day One" orders blocking wind energy development and pausing construction on wind farms were struck down or overturned by federal judges.

Requests for comment regarding the current hold on 165 projects were sent to the Pentagon and the American Clean Power Association, though neither immediately responded to inquiries.