In a curveball that local officials did not see coming, a project set to create over 1,500 jobs in New York City has been put on pause.

Equinor, the company responsible for the project, received a letter from U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on April 16.

The letter ordered ocean construction to stop immediately.

New York state Sen. Andrew Gounardes says it feels like a rug was swept out from under the project.

"I thought this was a done deal," he says.

The project, which promised 54 wind turbines to bring green power to half a million New York City households, was given approval in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first term. It was not until seven years later when the process was finally complete.

Under the Biden administration, final permits were approved in 2023. Once back in office for his second term as president, Trump ordered Burgum to conduct an assessment of the project.

In Tuesday's letter, Burgum said the federal government had finished its review and believe the project approval was rushed by the prior administration without "sufficient analysis."

Equinor says construction within the outer ocean shelf has stopped, and it will continue to comply with the order, while also reviewing it with relevant authorities.