President Donald Trump has ordered a halt to several offshore wind projects, including five major wind farms along the East Coast. The decision was based on national security concerns, according to administration officials. One of the projects affected is Empire Wind, located offshore in the New York Bight between Monmouth County and southern Long Island.
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who represents New Jersey’s 4th district and has been in Congress since 1981, welcomed the move. Smith has long opposed offshore wind development, raising concerns about its impact on radar systems and military operations near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
“I am grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum for their leadership in assessing ocean wind’s threats to national security and radar interference,” Smith said. “As I have argued from day one — ocean wind projects pose significant, catastrophic impacts to radar, putting military and civilian aircrafts and vessels at grave risk.”
The Department of the Interior announced that construction would be paused so a review could be conducted with the Department of Defense. Supporters of offshore wind argue that previous reviews by the U.S. Coast Guard did not find problems related to radar interference.
“The administration is again illegally blocking clean, affordable energy,” said Ted Kelly of the Environmental Defense Council.
Robin Shaffer, President of Protect Our Coast New Jersey, supported Smith’s position: “Placing largely foreign-owned wind turbines along our coastlines was never acceptable.”
Offshore wind development has faced both political opposition and economic challenges in recent years. Some projects off New Jersey’s coast were canceled due to financial issues or companies exiting agreements.
Smith was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and lives in Manchester Township. He graduated from The College of New Jersey in 1975 with a BS degree.
The original article can be found at https://shorebeat.com/lavallette-seaside/2025/12/trump-halts-construction-of-remaining-offshore-wind-project-off-n-j/
