The Trump Administration has withdrawn its appeal of a federal court ruling that invalidated the section of a January 2025 Presidential Wind Memorandum that halted federal leasing and permitting activities for onshore and offshore wind projects.
The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit granted the federal government’s motion to voluntarily dismiss its appeal of a December 2025 decision by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The lower court had found the challenged section of the Presidential Wind Memorandum unlawful and vacated it in its entirety.
With the appeal withdrawn, the district court’s ruling remains in effect, meaning the nationwide indefinite pause on wind energy leasing and permitting activities can no longer be enforced.
President Donald Trump issued the memorandum on 20 January 2025, directing federal agencies to halt approvals required for the development of offshore and onshore wind projects pending a review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices. Federal agencies subsequently suspended permitting and approval activities for wind developments.
A coalition of states challenged the directive in May 2025, arguing that it unlawfully interfered with wind energy development and threatened investments in renewable energy infrastructure, supply chains and workforce development. The states also argued that the measure would increase energy costs and undermine efforts to diversify electricity supplies.
In December 2025, the Massachusetts district court ruled in favor of the states, determining that the administration lacked the authority to impose the indefinite freeze and vacating the relevant section of the memorandum.
The federal government filed an appeal at the beginning of this year but has now withdrawn the case, leaving the lower court ruling intact.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the outcome, stating that the states had challenged what they viewed as an unlawful action. He said the decision clears the way for investment, job creation and broader access to affordable energy while helping reduce the impact of rising utility costs on households.
The dismissal removes the legal basis for the federal wind leasing and permitting freeze and allows federal wind leasing and permitting activities to proceed under the court’s ruling.
