U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate and Natural Resources Committee, called on July 23 for the Government Accountability Office to investigate the Department of the Interior’s wind leasing and permitting practices that have delayed wind energy projects since January 2025.
In a letter addressed to Acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown, Heinrich asked the GAO to examine how the Department of the Interior (DOI) and other federal agencies have handled wind leasing and permitting since January 2025. The letter cited a requirement for Secretary Burgum’s review and approval of every renewable energy project on public lands as one factor contributing to stalled projects. Heinrich wrote, “Since January 2025, wind energy projects have been stalled—in part due to a requirement to have Secretary Burgum’s review and approval of every renewable energy project on public lands.” He also noted that DOI has issued stop work orders suspending construction on projects and agreed to pay potentially billions in taxpayer dollars for lease cancellations.
The letter requests that GAO assess several aspects: changes in DOI’s wind leasing practices since President Trump took office; DOI’s plan for reviewing these practices; current status of wind leases under permit review; impacts on stakeholders; and economic effects from stop work orders. Heinrich said, “The Trump Administration has shown a strong willingness to go to any lengths to kill wind projects, including stretching the bounds of the law,” adding that it is important for Congress and Americans, to understand how DOI’s actions have crippled the development of wind energy in the country.”
Heinrich referred specifically to a memorandum issued by President Trump on January 20, 2025, which prohibited federal agencies from issuing new leases or permits for offshore wind pending further review. This memorandum temporarily withdrew all U.S. Outer Continental Shelf areas from consideration for offshore wind leasing, leaving future project status uncertain.
According to Heinrich’s letter, this presidential directive required DOI and other agencies not only to halt new authorizations but also led them to issue stop work orders suspending ongoing construction—actions with significant financial implications due both directly by taxpayers through potential compensation payments.
Heinrich concluded his request by urging prompt attention from GAO so that oversight efforts can proceed with accurate information about how federal policy changes are affecting domestic renewable energy development.