Trump’s War on Offshore Wind Leaves U.S. Workers in Limbo
United States President Trump has strongly criticised wind power since coming into office, introducing several executive actions aimed at restricting the development of wind farms. Trump has particularly targeted offshore wind, leading to several projects being put on hold or cancelled. The on-again-off-again nature of U.S. offshore wind has hit workers hard, creating job insecurity and posing…
President Trump's administration has been vocal in its opposition to wind power, particularly offshore wind, implementing several executive actions to limit its growth. This has left a significant number of workers in the industry facing job insecurity and the threat of permanent project cancellations. The fluctuations in the U.S. offshore wind sector have had a profound impact on workers, many of whom were hoping to transition their skills from the oil and gas sector to renewable energy.
Clean energy jobs have grown by nearly 12% between 2021 and 2024, but the decline in the oil and gas sector has resulted in a loss of around 252,000 jobs. The first U.S. offshore wind farm began operations in 2016, and the federal government has leased areas to major international energy companies, with a focus on the Northeast, Virginia, and California.
However, President Trump's first day in office saw him sign a presidential memorandum effectively banning offshore wind leasing and review of permitting practices. In March 2025, the administration announced plans to pay France's TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion to halt U.S. offshore wind projects, effectively ending thousands of workers' hopes of returning to their jobs.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority estimated that a typical offshore wind project creates around 1,000 construction jobs annually and approximately 100 operational jobs. The loss of these projects has been a significant blow to workers and local economies. The New England industrial mechanics union, Millwrights Local 1121, had invested heavily in offshore wind job training, expecting long-term renewable energy jobs to be guaranteed as part of the U.S. green transition.
However, the suspension or cancellation of projects has left many workers without employment prospects. By September 2025, nine already-permitted offshore wind projects, expected to provide electricity to nearly 5 million homes and create around 9,000 jobs, were under investigation or paused by the Trump administration. Additionally, Trump barred new solar and wind projects from federal land and waters, further stifling the industry.
The impact of Trump's actions on the number of jobs affected is yet to be determined, but the situation remains highly uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from OilPrice's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
