The Trump administration has sent letters to developers of 165 onshore wind farms, stalling projects that could generate 30 gigawatts of electricity—enough to power approximately 15 million homes. The Department of Energy cited national security concerns in letters sent in early April, reviewing the agency's processes for evaluating energy projects' impact on national security.

This marks a dramatic escalation in the administration's effort to shut down wind energy, extending beyond federal lands to private property. President Trump has called wind farms the "worst form of energy" and stated his goal is to "not let any windmill be built." The administration has already attempted to shut down offshore wind sites using similar national security arguments, with some actions blocked in federal courts.

The administration recently began refunding offshore wind leases in exchange for fossil fuel investments, including a $1 billion deal with TotalEnergies in March. Jason Grumet of the American Clean Power Association called the move unprecedented, noting it tells private landowners they cannot pursue economic activity from their property—a tension with conservative values. Kit Kennedy of NRDC stated the administration keeps reaching for "more extreme and absurd methods" as courts strike down previous attempts.