Judge Sabotages Trump Again
A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s latest attempt to pause construction on a major offshore wind project, allowing work to continue for now.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who was appointed during the Reagan administration, granted a preliminary injunction that paused a federal order requiring the Revolution Wind project to shut down.
The Trump administration had ordered Revolution Wind—along with four other offshore wind projects—to halt construction for 90 days, citing unresolved national security and safety concerns related to large offshore energy installations.
President Donald Trump has long opposed offshore wind projects, arguing they are expensive, inefficient, and potentially harmful to coastal environments, national defense readiness, and maritime activity. Trump has repeatedly said his administration does not support expanding offshore wind development.
This is not the first time Revolution Wind has been delayed by federal action. In August, the administration attempted to suspend construction on the project, prompting legal challenges. Judge Lamberth intervened then as well, issuing a similar injunction that allowed work to proceed.
Revolution Wind is a joint venture involving Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, which is backed by Global Infrastructure Partners. After Monday’s ruling, Ørsted said construction would resume “as soon as possible.”
The offshore facility is being built off the coast of Rhode Island and is expected to supply electricity to Rhode Island and Connecticut once operational. Project developers claim the wind farm could eventually generate enough power for up to 350,000 homes and say construction is now more than 80 percent complete.
The dispute highlights an ongoing clash between the Trump administration’s energy priorities and renewable energy commitments approved under prior administrations. As legal challenges continue, the future of offshore wind—and the balance between energy policy, national security, and executive authority—remains unsettled.
