— Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who has long fought against the offshore wind buildout along the New Jersey Shore, welcomed President Trump’s Executive Order pausing new offshore wind approvals and requiring a comprehensive review of approved projects.

  “This is a victory for everyone along the New Jersey coast,” Smith said. “On his first day in office President Trump has acted to help end our offshore wind nightmare. Meanwhile, in four years the Biden Administration failed to do anything to address the serious safety, efficacy, cost, and legal concerns of industrializing our oceans.

  “For years, we have been pointing out the lack of serious scrutiny, proper vetting, and legal deficiency of these projects, but the Biden-Harris Administration has ignored our concerns—unilaterally dismissing specific questions on the dangers windfarms present to national security radar systems, marine mammals, and the livelihoods of our coastal communities. I have fought against the previous administration and am delighted that President Trump has heard the concerns and widespread public outcry.”

  Smith has led multiple efforts to secure answers from the Biden Administration on offshore wind. He introduced legislation—which was passed by the House of Representatives in July 2023—that would require presidential certification that offshore wind projects would not “weaken, degrade, interfere with, or nullify the capability of radar relied upon by the Federal Aviation Administration or the Armed Forces.”

  Smith’s legislative effort came immediately after BOEM Director Liz Klein failed to offer specific details when pressed by Smith at a congressional hearing on whether offshore wind projects would make military vessel navigation less safe.

  Their exchange occurred just one week after Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon had deemed several areas off the East Coast as “highly problematic” for offshore wind development due to proximity to military operations.

  “President Trump’s Executive Order will ensure new and proper reviews for projects expedited without real examination, such as Atlantic Shores South,” Smith said. “With the new administration asking the questions the public has been demanding answers on for years, I expect the many holes and safety gaps in the offshore wind approval process to come to light.”

  “I am grateful that President Trump is already skeptical of the reckless process used by the Biden Administration to rush these projects through. I look forward to working with him on efforts to reverse a great injustice against our coastal communities. I commend him for his swift action to help avert foreseeable national security, environmental, and economic catastrophe on our East Coast,” Smith said.

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