A federal judge on Monday invalidated a directive issued by President Donald Trump that had effectively halted the progress of wind energy projects across the United States. The order, signed on January 20, 2025, directed federal agencies to suspend new and renewed permits, leases, rights-of-way, and other approvals for both onshore and offshore wind developments while the administration conducted a review of federal wind energy policies.
U.S. District Judge Patti Saris ruled that the agencies’ implementation of the directive violated the Administrative Procedure Act. She described the freeze as “arbitrary and capricious” and “contrary to law,” emphasizing that federal agencies are required to process permit applications within a reasonable timeframe. Saris found that agencies failed to provide a meaningful justification for halting approvals and did not properly consider relevant factors before acting.
The lawsuit challenging the directive was filed by 17 states, Washington, D.C., and a clean energy advocacy group. Saris’ ruling vacates the directive entirely, bringing an end to the nationwide pause on wind project approvals. Supporters of renewable energy welcomed the decision, while the White House defended the policy as part of a broader effort to reassess energy priorities.
