Democrats quit permitting reform talks over Trump wind crackdown

Published December 22, 2025 5:02pm ET



Bipartisan negotiations over accelerating environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects broke down Monday in reaction to the Trump administration taking new steps to smother the offshore wind industry. 

Democratic negotiators said Monday they were ceasing talks with Republicans because of the Interior Department’s announcement that it paused leases for five offshore wind projects that were fully permitted and under construction — one of which was already pumping energy into the grid. 

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