A federal judge has struck down President Donald Trump’s “Wind Memo,” an order issued on January 20, 2025 that suspended all new permits, leases, and approvals for wind energy projects across the United States. Judge Patti Saris ruled that federal agencies acted unlawfully by halting wind approvals solely because of the president’s directive, finding the freeze “arbitrary and capricious” under the Administrative Procedure Act. Seventeen states, Washington, D.C., and the Alliance for Clean Energy New York challenged the order, arguing that it lacked legal and procedural justification. Saris agreed, concluding that agencies failed to analyze relevant factors or provide any substantive rationale for suspending permit activity.
In her decision, Saris emphasized that the administrative record showed no independent evaluation by the agencies, which admitted they acted only at the president’s instruction. As a result, the judge vacated the memo entirely, effectively lifting the nationwide freeze on wind project approvals. Supporters of the ruling, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, hailed it as a major victory for clean energy, green jobs, and climate goals.
The White House criticized the decision, defending Trump’s directive as a necessary review of wind leasing practices and broader energy policy. Officials argued that Biden-era policies unfairly favored offshore wind while burdening the rest of the energy sector. It remains unclear whether the administration will appeal, though such a move is considered likely given the ruling’s implications for federal energy oversight and executive authority.