Trump’s Mindless Rollback of Offshore Wind Has Screwed Over Thousands of Workers
This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. When Gerard Mullin decided to train in offshore wind, he didn’t know what to expect. But on his first long-term project in Massachusetts, he immediately relished the consistency of the work, the good pay, and the novelty of laboring at […]
When Gerard Mullin embarked on his first offshore wind project in Massachusetts, he found the work rewarding, well-paid, and unique. However, the industry faced uncertainty when President Donald Trump issued a stop-work order in 2023, halting all future permitting. This decision stranded workers like Mullin at their locations. Trump had previously criticized offshore wind in his 2024 campaign and subsequently canceled 12 offshore wind leases.
Thousands of workers who expected stable, well-paying careers now scramble for limited opportunities or return to previous jobs. The supply chain supporting offshore development, including in economically disadvantaged areas, also suffered. Elizabeth Wilson, a Dartmouth College professor studying offshore wind, noted that the promises of economic development linked to the industry have evaporated.
For Mullin, the abrupt change in federal government attitude left him at the mercy of external factors beyond his control. Trump's administration defended his policies, claiming they were good for the economy and workers, but public-sector economist Tim Sullivan dismissed the White House's reasoning as counterproductive. As Mullin returned to onshore construction work, he lamented the potential loss of long-term career prospects in offshore wind.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
