Trump Administration Halts Rhode Island Offshore Wind Project, Stranding 1000 Workers

The Trump administration ordered an immediate halt to the Revolution Wind offshore wind project, Rhode Island’s first large-scale offshore wind farm, which is 80% complete and expected to power over 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut by 2026. This stop-work order stranded at least a dozen offshore millwrights at sea aboard the Wind Scylla vessel and left roughly 1,000 unionized workers' jobs uncertain. State leaders including Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, along with congressional delegates and labor unions, have strongly opposed the decision, calling it disruptive and harmful to local jobs, energy progress, and families. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management cited national security concerns as the reason for halting activities, referencing a January memorandum from President Trump ordering a review of permitting and leasing of offshore wind projects. However, local officials contend that projects already underway, like Revolution Wind, should be exempt from this review. The abrupt stoppage has sparked calls for the federal government to reverse the order and allow work to resume to avoid jeopardizing both economic and energy goals in the region.