White House Orders Multiple Agencies to Investigate Offshore Wind Risks

The Trump administration, led by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and senior adviser Stephen Miller, has launched a governmentwide campaign to halt offshore wind projects, citing concerns over national security, health risks, and economic inefficiency. Following President Trump's executive order in January to review and halt new offshore wind leases, multiple agencies including Health and Human Services, Defense, Interior, Commerce, Energy, and Transportation have been mobilized to investigate potential risks such as electromagnetic fields, radar interference, and the possibility of wind farms being exploited for undersea drone attacks. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed a coalition of cabinet members is working together on this issue, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has canceled $679 million in funding for facilities supporting offshore wind, labeling them wasteful. The administration's actions have disrupted projects like the $4 billion Revolution Wind farm off Rhode Island, which was 80% complete before construction was halted. These moves reflect the administration's broader agenda to prioritize coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy over wind power, which President Trump has repeatedly criticized as "ugly, expensive and inefficient." The campaign has also sparked opposition from industries such as New England fishing, which claim offshore wind harms their livelihoods.