Obama Administration Disregards Rule of Law with Dakota Access Decision

The recent announcement from the Obama administration indicating that the US Army Corps of Engineers will not grant the Dakota Access pipeline the final easement is flawed in its reasoning, sets a troubling precedent, and will only hurt the American people.

The Dakota Access pipeline was fully approved by four state governments and four federal judges following a two-year review and approval process. Project officials consulted with Native groups nearly 400 times and the project was altered over 140 times to address specific concerns.

This decision is a stark insult to the thousands of men and women who worked tirelessly building and approving the project. Furthermore, despite being over ninety percent complete, the Obama administration chooses to validate and further embolden the project’s illegal opposition.

In the fleeting weeks of his presidency, President Barack Obama has jeopardized our nation’s energy independence and the livelihoods of thousands of Americans.