Trump administration greenlights controversial Bridger oil pipeline amid Indigenous protests

A new cross-border pipeline has received approval from the Trump administration. The Bridger pipeline will carry tar sands oil from Alberta into the US, ending in southeastern Wyoming. Its planned route has already sparked strong reactions from local officials and Indigenous groups.

The pipeline will stretch 647 miles once built, entering the US at Phillips County, Montana. Developers aim to begin construction in autumn of next year. If completed, it would become the largest source of local property tax revenue in the county, according to Richard Dunbar, a Phillips County commissioner.

The project has faced immediate opposition. Lance Fourstar, a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe, criticised the presidential permit allowing the pipeline to cross the border. One proposed route could cut through the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, raising concerns about land rights and environmental risks. Critics also point to the company’s past record. The same operator was responsible for the 2015 Poplar pipeline spill, which released 50,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River. Joseph White Eyes, an activist with Honor the Earth, called the Bridger pipeline a continuation of genocide and colonisation against Native American communities.

The Bridger pipeline now has federal approval to move forward. Its construction would bring economic benefits to Phillips County but also risks to Indigenous lands and waterways. The project’s future depends on further regulatory steps and ongoing opposition from affected tribes.