The Trump offshore wind pause marks a significant turning point for America’s clean energy transition. Citing offshore wind national security risks, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that U.S. offshore wind leases have been paused for all large-scale projects currently under construction.

At the center of the decision is growing concern over offshore wind radar interference, which defense agencies warn could weaken the nation’s ability to detect real threats near critical East Coast population centers. The move raises urgent questions about whether offshore wind projects and national defense can safely coexist.

Government Announcement: U.S. Offshore Wind Leases Paused

The Department of the Interior, working with the Department of War and other agencies, announced an immediate pause on large-scale offshore wind projects. The action affects major leaseholders and state partners while authorities assess the potential for mitigating national security risks.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated:

“The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people. This pause ensures that emerging national security risks are addressed before these projects proceed.”

Offshore Wind National Security Risks Explained

Radar Interference and “Clutter.”

One key concern is the interference from offshore wind radar, commonly referred to as radar clutter. According to unclassified U.S. government reports:

• Massive turbine blades create moving reflections
• Highly reflective towers distort radar signals
• These distortions can obscure actual threats or generate false targets

The Department of Energy noted in a 2024 report that radar thresholds can be adjusted to reduce false alarms; however, this may increase the likelihood of missing real targets. More details are available at the Department of Energy – Wind Energy Technologies Office

Projects Affected

The following U.S. offshore wind leases have been paused:

• Vineyard Wind 1 (OCS-A 0501)
• Revolution Wind (OCS-A 0486)
• CVOW – Commercial (OCS-A 0483)
• Sunrise Wind (OCS-A 0487)
• Empire Wind 1 (OCS-A 0512)

These projects represent billions of dollars in investment and are pivotal to East Coast renewable energy plans.

Strategic Concerns for the East Coast

Most paused projects are near:

• Dense population centers
• Military installations
• Key shipping lanes

To understand the technical differences between project types, see our guide on Floating vs Fixed-Bottom Offshore Wind.

Defense officials warn that radar interference from offshore wind near these zones could reduce situational awareness and response capability, creating vulnerabilities as adversary technologies evolve.

Next Steps

Federal agencies will:

• Review classified defense assessments
• Collaborate with developers to explore mitigation measures
• Decide whether leases can resume or require modifications

Potential solutions include:

• Advanced radar-compatible turbine designs
• Modified turbine layouts
• Partial or permanent project cancellations

Implications for the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry

This pause introduces uncertainty for:

• Investors
• State renewable energy targets
• Supply chains for turbine manufacturing

It also signals that future offshore wind development will need to carefully consider national security constraints, particularly near strategic defense zones.

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior