The Trump administration is taking action against the University of Minnesota after a federally funded wind turbine killed a bald eagle, signaling a tougher stance on enforcing wildlife protection laws and holding institutions accountable.
The Department of the Interior issued a violation notice against the university after the eagle was struck and killed by a turbine at the school’s Eolos Wind Energy Research Field Station in Dakota County. The impact was severe, with the bird torn into three pieces. Technicians reportedly found the lower body and tail shortly after the incident, while the head and wings were not recovered until more than a month later.
Federal officials say the university did not possess the required permit that allows for the incidental killing of bald eagles, a species protected under federal law. As a result, the school now faces a potential fine of $14,536.
The turbine at the center of the case was constructed using a $7.9 million federal grant awarded by the Obama-era Department of Energy in 2010, according to reporting from the Minnesota Daily. University materials indicate the turbine tower stands roughly 263 feet tall, with the blade tips reaching about 415 feet from the ground.
A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said the enforcement action reflects a shift in priorities under President Donald Trump. Matthew Middleton told Fox News Digital that the administration is committed to protecting bald eagles and ensuring accountability from industries and institutions that put them at risk.
“America’s bald eagles are a national treasure, not collateral damage for costly wind experiments,” Middleton said. He added that wind companies will no longer receive special treatment as the administration advances energy policies focused on affordability and economic strength.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has previously criticized large-scale wind and solar projects. According to Fox News Digital, Burgum has argued that so-called green energy initiatives have been unreliable and unaffordable, while benefiting foreign competitors rather than American workers and consumers.
The enforcement action marks a sharp contrast with policies during the Obama administration. In 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expanded its permitting program to allow wind energy projects to obtain permits lasting up to 30 years, covering incidental harm to eagles. Under that framework, wind developers could legally kill eagles without facing penalties as long as they operated under the permit system.
Investigations later revealed that federal officials during that period were often reluctant to pursue enforcement actions against wind farms. An Associated Press investigation found that the administration worked to keep eagle mortality numbers from becoming public and avoided prosecuting many cases involving wind energy facilities.
Environmental groups took notice as well. According to PBS, the Audubon Society accused the Interior Department at the time of effectively giving the wind industry a blank check when it came to harming protected birds.
In December 2016, during the final weeks of the Obama presidency, the administration finalized a rule allowing wind companies to kill up to 4,200 bald eagles per year without facing fines, according to the Denver Post. That rule further cemented the hands-off approach critics say prioritized renewable energy development over wildlife protection.
The Trump administration’s move against the University of Minnesota underscores a broader policy shift away from that approach. By enforcing existing laws and pursuing penalties, federal officials are signaling that even federally funded projects and major public universities will be held to account when protected species are harmed.
