US Judge Blocks Trump Administration Freeze on New Wind Energy Approvals

A federal judge has struck down a directive issued by US President Donald Trump’s administration that halted all federal approvals for new wind energy projects, ruling that the agencies enforcing the order acted unlawfully and without proper justification.

The decision, handed down on Monday by US District Judge Patti Saris in Boston, sided with 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. They challenged the administration’s move to halt permitting for both onshore and offshore wind developments while federal agencies reviewed leasing and approval processes.

Judge Saris, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, wrote that the Departments of the Interior and Commerce, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, failed to provide a “reasoned explanation” for suspending action on permit applications. She said that under the Administrative Procedure Act, federal agencies cannot indefinitely decline to review applications simply because the president has issued a directive.

The court found that the pause represented a sharp break from decades of federal support for wind energy development. Saris noted that regulators admitted they halted permit reviews solely because Trump had ordered them to do so on January 20, his first day back in office.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose state led the lawsuit, hailed the ruling as “a big victory in our fight to keep tackling the climate crisis.” She said the decision protects states’ efforts to expand renewable energy projects and maintain momentum on long-term climate goals.

The White House defended the administration’s position, with spokeswoman Taylor Rogers saying the president’s directive was part of a broader push to “unleash America’s energy dominance” and safeguard national and economic security. Since returning to office, Trump has emphasised expanding fossil fuel production, echoing the “drill, baby, drill” message from his campaign.

The lawsuit stemmed from a May order issued by the Interior Department instructing Norwegian energy company Equinor to halt construction on its Empire Wind offshore project off New York’s coast. Although that specific stoppage was later lifted, the broader freeze on new wind permitting remained in effect, prompting states to argue that the policy was harming investment, jobs and regional economic planning.

Judge Saris agreed with the states’ assessment, stating that the sweeping halt “constitutes a change of course” from the long-standing approach of issuing or denying wind permits based on established regulatory processes rather than presidential preference.

Industry groups also welcomed the ruling. Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network, said lifting the “unlawful blanket halt” is essential for expanding electricity supply, improving grid reliability and accelerating major investments in American manufacturing and shipbuilding linked to the offshore wind sector.

The decision marks a significant legal setback for Trump’s efforts to curb federal support for renewable energy and underscores the limits on presidential authority when directing independent regulatory processes.