Smith, known for his persistence and ability to get results, took the lead once again this year by calling on U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to halt Empire Wind 1’s construction. Smith raised concerns about the project's potential environmental and economic impacts and urged a full federal review before any further work was allowed offshore.

On April 16, Burgum announced that, after consultation with federal agencies, he had directed the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Management to halt all construction activities on Empire Wind 1 until a full review could be completed.

Equinor has stated it will comply with the stop-work order but is considering legal action against the U.S. government. "Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order," the company said in a statement.

The project's halt stems from an executive order issued by President Trump on his first day in office, which paused all new U.S. wind farm development. Although Empire Wind 1 had received its lease in 2017 — before the new order — the administration directed a comprehensive review of existing projects to determine if any leases should be amended or terminated.

Equinor emphasized that it had legally acquired the lease area and secured all necessary approvals, calling the project "validly permitted and currently under construction."

Initially, Equinor and partner British Petroleum (BP) had planned two offshore wind farms — Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2. However, in early 2024, plans for Empire Wind 2 were scrapped due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and rising interest rates.

If built, Empire Wind 1 would cover approximately 80,000 acres of ocean, making it New Jersey’s largest offshore wind project to date.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vowed to challenge the federal stop-work order, calling it "federal overreach," and pledged to fight to complete the project.

For now, however, thanks in large part to Smith’s leadership and persistence, construction on Empire Wind 1 is at a standstill — a major development in the growing battle over offshore wind energy along the East Coast. 

Quick Timeline: 

Rep. Chris Smith has been actively pushing back against offshore wind energy projects along the Jersey Shore since at least early 2023 — and even earlier if you count broader opposition he expressed regarding coastal environmental impacts and marine life.

• January 2023: Smith became one of the first major federal officials to demand a moratorium on offshore wind development after a series of whale deaths along the East Coast raised public alarm. He held press conferences and called for federal investigations into the link between wind farm activity and marine mammal deaths.
• March 2023: Smith introduced legislation — the Offshore Wind Industrialization Act — seeking a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into offshore wind’s environmental and economic impacts.
• All throughout 2023 and 2024: He consistently called out the Biden administration and state-level leaders (especially in New Jersey) for moving too fast on offshore wind without what he argued was proper scientific review or environmental protection.
• March 2025: Smith formally petitioned the new Trump administration and Interior Secretary Doug Burgumto halt Empire Wind 1’s construction, citing rushed approvals and calling for a fresh environmental review.
• April 2025: The federal government officially issued a stop-work order on Empire Wind 1, following Smith’s lead.

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