Six states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on June 2, 2026, regarding its decision to cancel an offshore wind lease off the coast of New York. The federal government had announced plans to pay nearly $1 billion to French energy firm TotalEnergies in exchange for the company terminating its plans to develop two offshore wind farms in New York and North Carolina. TotalEnergies agreed to halt the projects and pledged not to pursue new offshore wind developments in the U.S., while shifting investments towards oil and gas projects.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, leading the lawsuit, stated that the deal was unlawful and detrimental to clean energy initiatives and job creation in New York. The lawsuit claims that the agreement violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which limits the Interior Department's authority to cancel offshore wind leases, and the Judgment Fund Act, which governs appropriations for court judgments and settlements. The plaintiffs are seeking to invalidate the agreement, stop the lease cancellation, and prevent further actions by Trump administration officials related to the deal.
Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, previously described the agreement as beneficial for energy affordability and reliability, while green advocacy groups criticized the decision, arguing it undermines access to clean energy and increases costs for consumers.
