Burgum defends offshore-wind pause on national-security grounds
Doug BurgumU.S. secretary of the interior
Burgum defended the December pause on offshore-wind leases, including Revolution Wind, as a response to emerging security risks.
Responding to
Doug Burgum said the offshore-wind pause, which included Revolution Wind, addressed emerging national-security risks from evolving adversary technology and projects near East Coast population centers.
“Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, ...”
Official statement
Original text
Where this statement fits
Was the federal government justified in halting Revolution Wind construction?
Federal officials halted construction of Revolution Wind off Rhode Island in August and December 2025, citing national-security concerns. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the December pause, while Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse criticized the interruptions. A federal judge granted preliminary injunctions against both orders. In September 2026, Connecticut announced installation of the project's final turbine.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Interior's announcement includes Revolution Wind among five paused leases. Burgum defended the action on security grounds; the department described radar interference and a review of possible mitigation.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original text
About this source
The order suspended offshore activities for 90 days, subject to exceptions, citing new classified defense information. BOEM said suspension was necessary while it considered mitigation.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Interior announced an immediate pause affecting five offshore-wind leases, including Revolution Wind.
After the quotation
The department said the pause would allow agencies and leaseholders to examine mitigation of risks described in classified reports. Its announcement also discussed radar interference.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Burgum argues that the pause addresses emerging security risks, so this statement defends the action.
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More from this case
Read the full caseSinding Daly says the December offshore-wind pause threatened affordability
“Blocking clean energy projects limits our energy options and makes electricity unaffordable”Read statement
Ted Kelly criticized the federal offshore-wind stop orders, including Revolution Wind's, arguing that the region needed additional electricity supply
“it makes no sense”Read statement
Whitehouse calls the renewed security rationale a pretext
“The new pretext was national security risks that had supposedly emerged in the previous thirty days.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Burgum defends offshore-wind pause on national-security grounds". First published: 2026-09-20. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1230-burgum-defended-the-december-pause-on-offshore-wind