In a surprising move, President Trump has signed an executive order that could put the brakes on wind power projects across the United States. The order, issued Monday night, stops federal approvals for new wind farms, both on land and offshore. This decision could throw a wrench into plans for renewable energy development nationwide. The order doesn’t just target big offshore wind farms in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans—it could also impact smaller projects on private land. That’s because many of these projects still need federal permits for things like wildlife protection. While ongoing projects aren’t immediately affected, the order opens the door for the government to revisit and potentially cancel existing leases. This could spell trouble for the wind industry, which currently supplies about 10% of the nation’s electricity. States like Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas, which rely heavily on wind power, might feel the pinch. There are nearly 40 gigawatts of wind projects in development across the country—enough to power millions of homes. But now, those plans are up in the air. The Biden administration had previously greenlit 11 large-scale offshore wind farms along the Atlantic Coast, with five already under construction. States like New York and Massachusetts were counting on these projects to meet their renewable energy goals. With Trump’s order, those ambitions could be in jeopardy. For now, the future of U.S. wind power hangs in the balance. Will this move slow the country’s shift toward renewable energy, or will it spark a new wave of innovation? Only time will tell.