Trump Approves Major New Oil Pipeline Connecting Canada to the United States

Trump Signs Off on Bridger Pipeline Expansion

President Donald Trump has authorized a significant cross-border oil pipeline that would transport Canadian crude into the United States for refining and export. The approval, signed Thursday, marks another bold step in the administration's aggressive push to expand domestic and continental energy infrastructure.

What Is the Bridger Pipeline Expansion?

The Bridger Pipeline Expansion is a 650-mile, 3-foot-wide pipeline capable of moving up to 550,000 barrels — roughly 87,400 cubic meters — of oil per day. Starting at the Canadian border in Montana, the pipeline would run south through eastern Montana and into Wyoming, where it would connect with an existing pipeline network.

For context, that volume represents approximately two-thirds of the capacity of the now-defunct Keystone XL pipeline, earning the Bridger project the informal nickname "Keystone Light."

A Sharp Contrast With the Biden Era

The approval draws a clear line between the current and previous administrations on energy policy. President Joe Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline permit on his first day in office in 2021, citing climate concerns — a decision that frustrated Canadian officials and cost Alberta more than $1 billion in prior investments.

Trump, who had approved Keystone XL during his first term in 2020, made his position clear after signing the Bridger cross-border permit.

"Slightly different from the last administration. They wouldn't sign a pipeline deal. And we have pipelines going up," Trump remarked.

What Makes This Pipeline Different?

Unlike Keystone XL, the Bridger Pipeline Expansion does not cross any Native American reservations — a point of contention that had plagued its predecessor. According to Bridger Pipeline LLC, based in Casper, Wyoming:

• More than 70% of the pipeline will be constructed within existing pipeline corridors
• Over 80% will run through private land
• The company operates more than 3,700 miles of gathering and transmission pipelines across North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming

Bridger Pipeline LLC is a subsidiary of True Companies, a firm with an extensive history in oil transportation infrastructure throughout the Williston Basin and Powder River Basin regions.

Additional Approvals Still Required

While the presidential cross-border permit is a critical milestone, the project is far from breaking ground. Additional state and federal environmental reviews must be completed before construction can begin. Company officials anticipate starting work in fall 2027, with a projected completion date of late 2028 to early 2029.

If construction wraps up within that window, the pipeline could be completed before the end of Trump's current term, potentially shielding it from reversal by a future administration — a fate that befell Keystone XL.

Safety Concerns and a Troubled Track Record

Environmental advocates and legal groups have raised serious concerns about the pipeline's approval, particularly given True Companies' subsidiaries' history of spill incidents:

• 2015: Over 50,000 gallons of crude spilled into the Yellowstone River, contaminating a Montana city's drinking water supply
• 2016: A spill in North Dakota released more than 600,000 gallons of crude, polluting the Little Missouri River and a nearby tributary
• 2022: A 45,000-gallon diesel spill occurred in Wyoming

True Companies subsidiaries ultimately agreed to pay $12.5 million in civil penalties to settle a federal lawsuit related to the Montana and North Dakota incidents.

How the Company Plans to Address Safety

Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin acknowledged the past incidents but emphasized that significant safety improvements have been made. These include:

• An AI-powered leak detection system designed to flag problems faster than conventional methods
• Plans to bore 30 to 40 feet beneath major rivers, including the Yellowstone and Missouri, to significantly reduce rupture risk
• Comprehensive emergency response protocols in the event of a leak

Salvin noted that the 2015 Yellowstone River spill occurred on a line installed in a shallow riverbed trench — a design flaw the new pipeline would not replicate.

Environmental Opposition Remains Strong

Despite the safety assurances, environmental organizations including the Montana Environmental Information Center and WildEarth Guardians remain firmly opposed to the project.

Attorney Jenny Harbine of Earthjustice summed up the core objection:

"The biggest concern we see right now is the concern inherent in all pipeline projects — the risk of spills. Pipelines rupture and leak. It's just a fact of pipelines."

As the project moves toward additional regulatory reviews, the debate between energy expansion and environmental protection is set to intensify in the months ahead.