Federal Court Clears Vineyard Wind to Resume Construction, Blocking Trump Order

2026-01-27 politics

Washington D.C., Wednesday, 28 January 2026.
A federal judge termed the government’s position “irrational,” handing the Trump administration its fourth consecutive legal defeat and allowing the $4.5 billion Vineyard Wind project to resume construction immediately.

Judicial Pushback on Executive Authority

On Tuesday, January 27, U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy issued a preliminary injunction lifting the stop-work order on Vineyard Wind, allowing the $4.5 billion project to resume construction immediately [1][2][5]. This decision marks the fourth time in recent weeks that federal courts have intervened to block the Trump administration’s efforts to halt offshore wind development, following similar rulings for projects in Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia [1][3][5]. Judge Murphy, a Biden appointee, characterized the government’s position as “irrational,” noting a fundamental contradiction in the administration’s policy: the order permitted 44 existing turbines to continue generating power while simultaneously forbidding the completion of the remaining 18 under the guise of national security [6]. Murphy wrote that the government “failed to adequately explain or justify the decision to halt construction” given this disconnect [6].

Economic Stakes and Operational Realities

The timing of the court’s decision is critical for the logistics of the Vineyard Wind project, which is located 24 kilometers off the coast of Massachusetts [4][8]. The facility is already 95% complete and currently generates approximately 600 megawatts of power—enough to supply the grid while construction finishes [7][8]. Developers argued that the stop-work order threatened the availability of the Sea Installer, a specialized vessel whose contract expires at the end of March [5][6]. Attorneys for Vineyard Wind noted that they needed to resume work by January 30 to complete the installation of the final turbine towers and blades before losing access to the vessel [5].

Political Friction and Future Uncertainty

The legal dispute highlights the deepening policy rift between the renewable energy sector and the White House. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers condemned the ruling, reiterating President Trump’s view that wind energy is “the scam of the century” and asserting that the pauses were necessary to prioritize national security [4][5]. Conversely, industry analysts and critics argue that the radar interference claims are a pretext to hinder an energy source the President has frequently criticized [1][4]. While the injunctions provide temporary relief, the underlying lawsuits seeking to permanently block the administration’s December order are still proceeding through the courts [2].

Sources

Offshore Wind Regulatory Policy