The Financial Times reports that roughly 165 onshore wind projects on private land are being held up by the Pentagon over national security concerns. Developers say communications have broken down since August 2025, with canceled meetings and stalled applications; letters in early April said the Pentagon is reviewing its evaluation procedures. The administration previously paused wind projects over classified radar-interference risks and faced subsequent lawsuits.
Pentagon Pauses About 165 U.S. Onshore Wind Projects Citing National Security, FT Reports
FILE PHOTO: A drone view of windmills near the Sacramento River where it enters the California Delta near Rio Vista, California, U.S. December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Fred Greaves/File photo
The Financial Times reports that the Trump administration has effectively stalled development of U.S. onshore wind projects by invoking national security concerns.
About 165 projects on private land are reportedly being held up by the Pentagon, the FT said, citing the American Clean Power Association and people familiar with the matter. The affected developments range from wind farms awaiting final sign-off to projects in active negotiations — and include some sites that normally would not trigger Pentagon review.
Reuters could not immediately verify the FT report. The American Clean Power Association and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
Developers say problems began in August 2025: expected communications from the Pentagon did not arrive, meetings were canceled without rescheduling options, and some applicants were told their submissions were no longer being processed. Letters sent to developers in early April said the Pentagon was reviewing its procedures for assessing how energy projects may affect national security, according to the newspaper.
Context And Background
The Trump administration has previously paused wind projects after citing newly identified, classified national security risks related to radar interference; those pauses led to litigation. Industry groups and developers say the current disruptions are part of a pattern of repeated delays and uncertainty under the administration, which has publicly criticized wind turbines as "ugly, expensive and inefficient."
Potential Implications
If sustained, the Pentagon's hold on approvals could slow clean-energy deployment, affect project financing and delay jobs tied to construction and operations. Developers and industry groups may pursue legal or legislative remedies if reviews remain open-ended or nondiscriminatory criteria are not provided.
(Reporting by Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru; editing by Tomasz Janowski and Will Dunham.)
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