Federal Courts and Regulation

The Trump administration in December ordered a stop‑work suspension of five East Coast offshore wind projects—Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind—citing classified Defense Department reports and national‑security and military‑readiness concerns without disclosing details to developers. States, attorneys general and companies including Equinor, Ørsted and Dominion have sued, saying the pause is arbitrary, threatens projects far along in construction and risks billions in losses, and federal judges have issued preliminary injunctions allowing Revolution Wind and Empire Wind to resume while courts review the order. The moves come alongside White House efforts to curb NEPA reviews, prompting critics to say the administration’s actions reflect a broader political rollback of federal clean‑energy permitting.