A federal judge for D.C. District Court has allowed Sunrise Wind to resume work after granting a preliminary injunction against the administration’s lease suspension and construction pause issued December 22, 2025.
D.C District Judge Lamberth ordered the action to be “arbitrary and capricious” after having reviewed classified information and agreed that irreparable harm standards were met given the loss of specialized vessels that would cause a “cascade of delays” preventing the project from meeting its obligations.
Previously, Judge Lamberth ruled in favor of Revolution Wind’s construction resumption twice, most recently under the same lease suspension and stop construction order affecting Sunrise Wind, and again in September 2025 when the federal administration issued a stop work order directly for Revolution Wind. The administration referenced undisclosed “national security concerns” that arose from a recent classified Department of War study alleging that turbine structures cause interference with military radar systems.
“Sunrise Wind represents a vital investment in strengthening both Long Island’s power system and the broader regional grid that millions of residents rely on—particularly during the harsh winter months. Offshore wind is uniquely suited for these conditions and stands ready to deliver steady, abundant power, easing the burden on families who have long relied on costly peaker plants to keep the lights on. Oceantic applauds this decision, which moves us closer to providing reliable, affordable clean energy and creating highquality jobs for the communities that stand to benefit the most,” said Liz Burdock, Oceantic Network CEO.
The latest ruling follows recent industry court victories against the administration’s attempts to slow down offshore wind. Most recently, Vineyard Wind resumed offshore activities after a stay was granted; Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Empire Wind, and Revolution Wind were also allowed to restart construction work after injunction requests were granted against the administration’s lease suspension and stop construction order issued December 22, 2025. In December, a federal judge vacated the administration’s previous permitting pause, ruling it unlawful.
Sunrise Wind is 45% complete and set to provide 924 MW of power generation to New York. The project’s supply chain stretches across 34 states and has driven more than $1.9 billion worth of investments while supporting more than 4,290 American jobs across the construction, operations, shipbuilding, and manufacturing sectors. Ten shipyards in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas built or retrofitted the more than 16 vessels operating at the site. Most notably, the first U.S.-built subsea rock installation vessel was constructed at Hanwha Philly Shipyard.
Halting the construction of these projects threatens at least 12,000 American jobs directly supporting their buildout. The construction has sparked more than 1,000 supply chain contracts to 675 unique American businesses across 41 states, spanning domestic shipyards, upgraded ports, and a massive resurgence in American steel.
Building and maintaining these projects has initiated at least 40 new vessel orders or specialized retrofits, totaling nearly $2 billion in activity at American steel mills and shipyards.
More info: www.oceantic.org
