Trump Administration Restricts Offshore, Federal Land Wind Solar Developments Nationwide

The Trump administration is significantly curtailing offshore wind and renewable energy development, particularly in Maryland and on federal lands, citing concerns over land use efficiency and safety. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management revoked designated Wind Energy Areas across multiple regions, undermining investor confidence and complicating offshore wind expansion on the Eastern Seaboard, including Maryland. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized prior administrations for ignoring safety concerns related to wind turbines near critical infrastructure, implementing new safety standards and calling for Congressional investigation. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued orders requiring that wind and solar projects on federal lands meet or exceed energy capacity densities of fossil fuels or nuclear power, effectively imposing stricter scrutiny and slowing permit approvals. These moves have been characterized by critics as a de facto moratorium on renewable projects, while the administration defends them as necessary to achieve U.S. energy dominance and protect taxpayers. Meanwhile, President Trump also threatened to federalize Washington, D.C., over rising violent crime, reflecting his broader approach to governance and enforcement.