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Tag: department of the interior

  • Empire strikes back with lawsuit against wind project stoppage | Long Island Business News

    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • Empire Offshore Wind files federal lawsuit challenging Interior Department stop-work order

    • Developer seeks injunction to continue construction during litigation

    • $5 billion Empire Wind project is already about 60% complete

    • Offshore wind project expected to power 500,000 homes and support nearly 4,000 jobs

    Eleven days after the Trump administration suspended its $5 billion wind power project off Long Island, Empire Offshore Wind LLC has filed a lawsuit to allow its construction to continue. 

    Empire filed a civil suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday, Jan. 2 challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior‘s order to suspend its project. Empire is seeking a preliminary injunction to allow construction of the project while the litigation proceeds, according to a statement from Equinor, the company behind the Empire Wind project. 

    Equinor said the stop-work order is unlawful and threatens the progress of ongoing work with significant implications for the project, which it maintains is already 60 percent complete.  The company said the injunction is necessary to “avoid additional commercial and financing impacts that are likely to occur should the order remain effective.”  

    Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind, located in the waters off Long Island, were two of five East Coast wind projects that received stop work notices from the Department of the Interior, as part of the Trump administration‘s ongoing assault on renewable clean energy.   

    This is the second time this year that the $5 billion Empire Wind project has been stopped by the federal government. It was halted in April by an order from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who claimed the Biden administration had rushed its approval, even though the lease for Empire Wind was approved in March 2017 during the first Trump administration. The project was restarted a month later the result of a compromise between the federal government and New York State to revive plans for the NESE gas pipeline project between Pennsylvania and New York that was cancelled five years ago, according to published reports.   

    Once completed in 2027, Empire Wind, being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, is expected to supply enough power to electrify 500,000 homes. The project has created nearly 4,000 jobs within the offshore lease area and through its revitalization of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, according to the statement. 

    The reason cited for the federal government’s lease suspensions was that the Pentagon complained that the wind turbine blades would cause radar interference and create a national security risk. In a statement from Department of the Interior, the halting of the wind projects is aimed at providing federal agencies “time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects.” 

    However, Equinor responded that Empire “has coordinated closely with numerous federal officials on national security reviews since it executed its lease for the project in 2017, including with the Department of War, and has complied with relevant national security related requirements identified as part of the regulatory process,” according to the statement.  


    David Winzelberg

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  • Trump administration halts Long Island wind projects | Long Island Business News

    Two major offshore wind power projects off Long Island have been stopped by the Trump administration, which suspended their leases on Monday. 

    Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind, located in the waters off Long Island, were two of five East Coast wind projects that received stop work notices from the U.S. Department of the Interior, as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing assault on renewable clean energy. 

    The reason cited for the lease suspensions was that the Pentagon complained that the wind turbine blades would cause radar interference and create a national security risk. In a statement from Department of the Interior, the halting of the wind projects is aimed at providing federal agencies “time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects.” 

    This is the second time this year that the $5 billion Empire Wind project has been stopped by the federal government. It was halted in April by an order from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who claimed the Biden administration had rushed its approval, even though the lease for Empire Wind was approved in March 2017 during the first Trump administration. The project was restarted a month later the result of a compromise between the federal government and New York State to revive plans for the NESE gas pipeline project between Pennsylvania and New York that was cancelled five years ago, according to published reports.  

    President Trump has long railed against wind power, calling the turbines ugly and inefficient, a criticism that’s been echoed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is now running for governor with Trump’s endorsement. 

    Gov. Kathy Hochul bashed the halting of the wind projects. “The Trump administration will look for any excuse to continue its assault on clean energy — and the thousands of good-paying jobs these projects bring — but there is no credible justification for this stoppage,” Hochul said in a statement. 

    Equinor, the company behind Empire Wind, said the project is more than 60 percent complete. 

    “In total, dozens of vessels, around 1,000 people, and more than a hundred companies in the U.S. and globally have been working in coordination on the Empire Wind project,” the company said in a written statement. “The stop work order threatens the progress of these activities and without a swift solution there may be significant impact to the project.” 

    Once completed in 2027, Empire Wind is expected to supply enough power to electrify 500,000 homes. The $700 million Sunrise Wind project, being developed by Ørsted about 30 miles off Montauk, is projected to create enough energy to power 600,000 homes. Both projects combined have created thousands of jobs. 

    Along with Sunrise, Ørsted also had its Revolution Wind project stopped. That project off Rhode Island, had been halted by the Trump administration in August, before a federal judge lifted the ban. 

    “Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind are both in advanced stages of construction and will be ready to deliver reliable, affordable power to American homes in 2026, with Revolution Wind expected to begin generating power in January,” said an Ørsted statement. 

    The company said it is “evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously, together with its partners,” including “the evaluation of potential legal proceedings.” 

    The 90-day suspension of the leases can be extended by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 

    The move to suspend the wind projects has been slammed by state and local officials, trade groups and organized labor.

    “Right in the midst of the holiday season, we learned that President Trump is once again pulling the rug out from under New York workers,” Hochul wrote in an op-ed published Tuesday by the Empire Report. “… The jobs building these wind farms aren’t just good union jobs that keep families afloat – they are also jobs that will create clean energy and keep energy costs down.” 

    Hochul added that the wind projects “reduce pressure on energy prices for families already stretched thin. And they anchor a robust offshore wind supply chain, from ports and manufacturers to electricians, ironworkers, and longshoremen who depend on these projects to keep working.”   


    David Winzelberg

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  • Chief Jessica Taylor to leave US Park Police after force required to directly report to Interior secretary – WTOP News

    The Interior Department said U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor will be retiring from the force to take on a new role with the Social Security Administration.

    U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor (Courtesy National Park Service, file)

    U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor will be retiring from the force to take on a new role with the Social Security Administration, according to the Department of the Interior.

    Taylor will serve as the chief security and resiliency officer, which will make up part of the SSA’s newly announced executive leadership team.

    The announcement of her retirement comes after WTOP previously reported on an order placing the Park Police under the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Interior.

    In announcing the decision, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised Taylor for her “unwavering commitment to public service and her dedication to keeping our cities, landmarks, and public spaces safe.”

    “Chief Taylor’s leadership, integrity, and service to this country will leave a lasting legacy that will be felt for generations to come,” Burgum added.

    Taylor took over the department in 2023, several months after the abrupt retirement of her predecessor, Pamela Smith, who now leads the D.C. police.

    In the announcement, Taylor said leading the U.S. Park Police has been the greatest honor of her career.

    “I leave with immense gratitude and deep respect for this Force and everyone who works with grit and integrity serving in the United States Park Police,” Taylor said.

    The Interior Department said Taylor will continue to assist with the “crucial” law enforcement surge in the District until her last day on Sept. 20. Her successor is expected to be named in the coming weeks.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Mike Murillo

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  • US Park Police chief to report directly to Interior secretary under new order – WTOP News

    According to a new order, Chief Jessica Taylor will now report directly to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum or a designated official, bypassing the traditional chain of command within the National Park Service.

    The Department of the Interior is restructuring the U.S. Park Police, moving its leadership one step closer to the White House by placing the chief under direct supervision of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

    In an order signed by Burgum, Chief Jessica Taylor will now report directly to Burgum or a designated official, bypassing the traditional chain of command within the National Park Service. Burgum or his designee, according to the order, “will provide strategic management and operational control of the USPP.”

    Signed Aug. 25, the order removes the National Park Service director and the assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks from any supervisory role over the police force, though they will continue to provide administrative support.

    The move comes as the force continues to grapple with chronic understaffing and, in recent weeks, an increased workload tied to President Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in D.C.

    It also follows a recent executive order from Trump calling for a rapid expansion of the force, with the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police saying new hires will be drawn from those with prior law enforcement experience.

    Past controversies still cast a shadow

    Burgum also recently announced a change to relax pursuit policies for the agency.

    The Interior Department said the change reflects the evolving role of the U.S. Park Police, whose jurisdiction now extends well beyond national parks.

    “It recognizes that the USPP jurisdiction and responsibility, particularly in the National Capital Region, extends beyond National Park System assets and implicates equities of other Federal agencies and virtually all local jurisdictions, which makes it essential for the USPP to be managed at the highest levels of Department of the Interior,” the order reads.

    The Interior Department shared a statement from a U.S. Park Police spokesperson with WTOP, saying the force recognizes the increasingly important role its officers play in protecting “our nation’s federal lands, national treasures, symbols of democracy, as well as our public safety component in Washington, D.C.”

    “As visibility increases, so too does our resolve — to serve with honor, integrity, and service,” the statement read.

    It’s unclear what impact the change will have on the department, which has seen controversies in the past, among them the clearing of Lafayette Park during protests of the death of George Floyd in June 2020.

    The clearing sparked claims that it was timed to coincide with Trump’s visit to St. John’s Church, which had been damaged during the protests.

    The Interior Department’s inspector general ultimately found the clearing was not ordered due to the presidential visit, but rather to allow fencing installation, though the incident raised serious concerns about communication failures.

    There were also concerns of delays in the release of information and a lack of transparency from the force and the Interior Department after two officers shot and killed Bijan Ghaisar after a car chase on the George Washington Memorial Parkway in 2017.

    The officers in that shooting were later cleared of wrongdoing after a lengthy investigation and legal process.

    Police union supports direct line to the top

    Ken Spencer, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police, praised Burgum’s decision to change the reporting structure for USPP.

    “I think it’s a great change, and I think it’s something that needed to happen,” Spencer said.

    He explained that the previous reporting structure created layers of red tape for the USPP, and believes the change will result in more resources, better funding and stronger public advocacy for the force.

    While acknowledging past struggles with transparency, Spencer said the new structure will help Park Police continue making strides in that area.

    “It always depends on who’s in charge of the administration, but I believe this will definitely improve transparency with the United States Park Police being able to go directly to the Department of Interior,” Spencer said.

    Asked whether the move could politicize the department, Spencer noted that both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management already report directly to the Interior Department. He said given the complexity of Park Police’s mission, reporting directly to the top benefits everyone.

    “If it gets politicized, then that’s on whatever administration is in charge,” Spencer said.

    Several area lawmakers were contacted for comment about the change and several offices indicated to WTOP that they had not yet seen the order.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Mike Murillo

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  • New Trump executive order relaxes chase policies for US Park Police – WTOP News

    The U.S. Park Police now has a less restrictive policy when it comes to police pursuits. The Trump administration is framing it as part of its stepped-up efforts in D.C.

    The U.S. Park Police now has a less restrictive policy when it comes to police pursuits. Officials in President Donald Trump’s administration are framing the change as part of its stepped-up crime effort in D.C.

    The new police pursuit rules are part of an Aug. 25 White House executive order, which said park police can use all applicable laws to maintain public safety and public order.

    “The Director of the National Park Service shall, subject to the availability of appropriations and applicable law, hire additional members of the United States Park Police in the District of Columbia to support the policy goals described in Executive Order 14333,” the order said. “The United States Park Police shall ensure enforcement of all applicable laws within their jurisdiction, including the Code of the District of Columbia, to help maintain public safety and proper order.”

    Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who oversees the U.S. Park Police, explained the new rules during a recent Cabinet meeting, which he said are a significant change.

    “I was shocked to find out when we were talking to them that, ‘you pull somebody over and they just drive away and you can’t pursue them?’ and they said, ‘No we can’t,’” Burgum said. “We got that rule changed in 24 hours because of President Trump’s leadership.”

    He said previously, suspects would mock police when they fled, saying you can’t pursue us.

    “The next night they had so much fun, they pulled people over, they chased them, they stopped them,” he said. “The bad guys in the cars said, ‘You’re not supposed to chase us. You’re breaking the rules.’”

    But, in a statement, the Fraternal Order of Police said, “Senior Leadership from the Fraternal Order of Police, the United States Park Police, and the Department of the Interior — on behalf of directives from the White House — negotiated an interim vehicle pursuit modification to our current General Order.”

    The statement said Park Police recognizes the need for “levelheaded judgment and safety for the public and our officers,” and said the interim pursuit policy will be in effect until a permanent policy is negotiated with the agency.

    “We support a policy that responsibly balances enforcement with safety and look forward to its permanent implementation,” the police union said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Dan Ronan

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  • Dept. of Interior aims to hire 100 officers to bolster US Park Police ranks – WTOP News

    With plans to onboard at least 100 new officers through lateral transfers, the U.S. Park Police aims to quickly bolster its force amid rising demands on federal law enforcement.

    The union that represents U.S. Park Police officers said it is seeing a new urgency from the Department of the Interior to address what it calls a “critical shortage” of officers in the D.C. region.

    The new momentum to bring on new officers comes after an executive order from President Donald Trump on Monday as the federal law enforcement surge in the nation’s capital continues.

    Chair of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police Ken Spencer called it the most movement he’s seen from the Interior in his over six years of sounding the alarm about the staffing shortage.

    “They are taking proactive steps to try and hire more police officers for our agency very quickly,” Spencer told WTOP.

    Spencer said since the increase in presence of law enforcement began, there have been visits by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at roll calls for officers, including one during which he was joined by President Trump. But he said talks to staff up truly got underway following the executive order.

    Last week, Spencer told WTOP the department, which patrols the National Mall and several area parkways, has been working in the D.C. region with 294 officers, when it should have 436.

    Spencer said he has been told the goal is to bring on at least 100 new officers quickly, which he believes will happen through lateral transfers. He said those hires involve bringing in police officers who work at other area police departments to reduce training time.

    “Put them through some sort of agency-specific training … approximately five or six weeks of training with U.S. Park Police — specific general orders and training,” Spencer said. “Then go through our field training process, where they could just get on the street and start working quickly.”

    With new recruits without police experience, he said it takes roughly a year to turn them into street-ready officers.

    While not confirming how many new officers will be quickly hired this year, in a statement to WTOP, Department of the Interior Deputy Press Secretary Aubrie Spady said the administration is “bolstering staffing and resources” and is “fast-tracking” recruitment efforts to “quickly grow the force.”

    “Morale is high among the U.S. Park Police as the Trump administration backs law enforcement with real action,” Spady wrote. “Our dedicated Park Police are excited to welcome these new additions who are joining the mission to protect our nation’s capital.”

    While getting new officers in place will take some of the stress off the current force, Spencer said there are challenges with quickly onboarding officers, even if they have law enforcement experience.

    “Of course, we’re trying to work out the logistics, because we’re not only just understaffed with sworn law enforcement, but we’re also understaffed with support personnel and training officers that can come in and help train new recruits at a quicker pace than what we’ve been doing,” he said.

    Spencer said he believes this will be the most officers the department has brought on in a year. Before this, he only recalls one year when 72 officers were brought onto the force over the course of a year.

    To bring in officers, especially those who work at other departments, Spencer said the move would need to be incentivized.

    Signing bonuses are likely, Spencer said, but he said those alone will not bring officers over or retain currently with the department.

    Spencer said proposals should include retention bonuses, competitive pay for officers, allow officers to take patrol cars home and reduce the years an officer needs to work to receive a pension from 30 to 22 years.

    “We have looked at other law enforcement agencies, at what they’re doing, like the D.C. police. We’ve looked at what Capitol Police has done over the years, the Secret Service Uniform Division — we’re looking to get somewhere in that ballpark,” Spencer said.

    Spencer said the call for the “U.S. Park Police Modernization Act,” a House bill that he said aims to modernize the pay and retirement structure for officers, to be passed by Congress remains.

    “If they just throw a big lump sum of money at us and try and say, ‘Hey, just hire some officers,’ that’s not going to fix the core problem,” he said. “The problem is officers are walking out the door and going somewhere else for greener pastures.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Mike Murillo

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