A federal judge allowed a Rhode Island-based offshore wind project to continue construction despite the Trump administration’s attempts to stop it, giving the industry a boost as it tries to weather the crackdown.
After an hourslong hearing Monday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled in favor of the offshore wind project known as Revolution Wind, saying it would be “irreparably harmed” if construction did not restart.
The project, led by Danish wind developer Ørsted, was paused for a second time in late December by the Interior Department over national security concerns.
Revolution Wind was one of five under-construction offshore wind projects halted as offshore leases were paused.
The project, which is estimated to be more than 80% complete, was scheduled to come online this year, though the Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to thwart that timeline.
The first attempt to block Revolution Wind came in August 2025 via a stop-work order. At the time, the administration accused project developers of rushing through the permitting process and failing to reach an agreement with the War Department via executive order over national security concerns.
Ørsted challenged the order, arguing it was unlawful. The wind giant also claimed that the company was losing more than $2 million per day over the pause.
A federal judge ruled in favor of the company in September, calling the administration’s stop-work order the “height of arbitrary and capricious actions.”
Interior reiterated national security concerns in December, pointing to the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers, which create radar interference called “clutter.” The department argued that “clutter” can obscure legitimate targets and generate false targets in their vicinity.
Following Monday’s hearing, Lamberth ruled that the government may be using national security concerns as a pretext to block the renewable energy project, according to Bloomberg.
He pointed out that the administration waited a month to halt the projects after discovering the so-called security risks. “I’m not persuaded any emergency exists in this case,” Lamberth said.
The judge also ruled that the pausing of the project may also be “arbitrary and capricious” and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.
The ruling is a blow to the Trump administration, which has sought to block all new and existing development of offshore wind.
During a lengthy meeting with oil executives last Friday, President Donald Trump bragged that his administration has not approved a single new windmill since he took office.
“My goal is to not let any windmill be built,” Trump said. “They’re losers. They lose money, they destroy your landscape, they kill your birds.”
TRUMP HALTS FIVE UNDER-CONSTRUCTION OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS, CITING NATIONAL SECURITY
Trump emphasized that his administration would not approve any new wind projects, but admitted that they may be forced to “do something” due to agreements made under the Biden administration.
This week, the administration is also facing challenges over the pausing of the Empire Wind and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind projects, which were also halted under the December order.
