On December 22, 2025 the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM") issued an order suspending all ongoing activities related to five offshore wind projects in the development stage for 90 days citing national security concerns (the "Suspension Orders"). The projects are off the coast of New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Virginia, and have expected capacities ranging from 700 MW to over 2 GW. Each of the project developers challenged the stop work order, stating that the order was arbitrary and capricious, procedurally unlawful, and irreparably harmful. By February 2, 2026, all of the projects obtained preliminary injunctions.
BOEM Issuance of Suspension Orders
BOEM grounded its suspensions in its 30 C.F.R. § 585.417(b) regulatory authority to issue a 90‑day suspension. BOEM framed its actions as necessary to address "new" or "additional" classified national security information from the Department of Defense/Department of War, emphasizing the East Coast projects'