Trump's freeze of an offshore wind project faces scrutiny from a judge he appointed

Source: AP

Updated 4:04 PM EST, January 14, 2026


WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge is considering whether to set aside a Trump administration order pausing construction on a major offshore wind farm for New York, which the developer says could mean the death of a project that’s 60% complete.

The Empire Wind project is designed to power more than 500,000 homes. Norwegian company Equinor said the project was in jeopardy due to the limited availability of specialized vessels, as well as heavy financial losses. It’s one of five big offshore wind projects on the East Coast that the administration froze days before Christmas, citing national security concerns. Developers and states have sued seeking to block the order.

The case was heard Wednesday by District Judge Carl J. Nichols, an appointee of President Donald Trump. Nichols plans to issue his decision Thursday.

The government filed their national security reasoning in secret for Nichols to review. The administration hasn’t publicly revealed specifics about those concerns, and at least one expert says the offshore projects were permitted following years of careful review that included the Department of Defense.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-offshore-wind-energy-climate-lawsuits-370884367bf3c15556dee43495cf11d9