The Interior Department ordered an immediate pause to construction on five major offshore wind projects — Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind 1 — citing national security concerns described in classified Department of Defense reports. Interior specifically highlighted radar "clutter" as a risk and said the pause will allow officials, leaseholders and states to evaluate mitigation options. The decision revives earlier disputes over Empire and Revolution Wind, which previously faced pauses and legal challenges. Lawmakers are also debating changes to federal permitting rules amid the dispute.
Interior Orders Immediate Pause On Five Major U.S. Offshore Wind Projects Citing National Security Risks
The Interior Department on Monday ordered an immediate halt to construction across five large-scale offshore wind projects currently under development in U.S. waters, citing national security concerns identified in classified Department of Defense reports.
The pause applies to the following projects: Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind 1. Interior said the suspension of active leases will remain in place while federal officials, leaseholders and state authorities evaluate whether the flagged risks can be mitigated.
What the Department Cited
Interior officials pointed to national security risks identified in "recently completed classified reports" from the Department of Defense. A particular concern cited by the department is radar interference from large offshore turbine arrays — described by officials as "clutter" — and the potential for mitigation steps (such as increasing radar detection thresholds) to reduce clutter at the cost of raising the chance that radar could miss legitimate targets.
Legal And Political Context
Two of the projects named — Empire Wind and Revolution Wind — previously faced administration intervention earlier this year. Those earlier pauses prompted legal challenges and strong reactions from developers and industry advocates. A judge recently ruled that at least one earlier suspension of offshore wind permits was unlawful; both earlier pauses were eventually lifted, one after the administration said it reached an agreement with New York and the other after a federal judge intervened.
Reactions
Developers for the affected projects did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Supporters of offshore wind say many radar and security concerns can be mitigated with established technical solutions and collaborative planning. Critics of the projects and proponents of enhanced review argue the pause is necessary to address evolving threats.
"Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
The decision also intersects with federal policymaking: House Republicans recently advanced legislation that would overhaul federal permitting reviews and has made the administration’s authority to pause projects a focal point of debate.
Interior said the pause will provide time to consult with leaseholders and state officials about possible mitigation measures and next steps. The outcome will affect project timelines, local jobs and planned offshore energy development along the East Coast.
