Judge to Vacate $28M DAPL Protest Judgment as Settlement Finalized

A federal judge has signaled he will vacate a nearly $28 million judgment against the U.S. government, allowing North Dakota to finalize a settlement over costs from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. According to Bing News, U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor indicated his intent during a hearing on Friday, May 8, 2026.

The settlement concludes a lawsuit filed by the state in 2019. The state argued that the federal government allowed protesters to camp on federal land near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation during the 2016 and 2017 demonstrations. This, North Dakota contended, forced the state to spend millions on law enforcement and cleanup.

Judge Traynor had ruled in the state's favor in April 2025, ordering the federal government to pay $28 million. Attorneys for both parties stated during the recent hearing that North Dakota is still expected to receive a payment from the federal government, though the final settlement amount has not been disclosed.

According to the report, the Department of Justice sought to have Traynor's rulings vacated as part of the settlement. This legal maneuver is intended to prevent the findings from influencing future cases.

The resolution of this long-running lawsuit represents a financial recovery for North Dakota taxpayers. The state bore significant costs for public safety and infrastructure during the prolonged period of civil disobedience, which aimed to halt construction of the critical pipeline.

For Bakken operators and the region's oil industry, the Dakota Access Pipeline is a vital piece of infrastructure. The 1,172-mile pipeline moves crude oil from the Bakken formation in North Dakota to a terminal in Illinois. Its operation has been essential for providing a stable and cost-effective route to market for North Dakota shale producers.

The protests, which drew international attention, created uncertainty and logistical challenges during the pipeline's construction phase. The settlement and vacated judgment close a contentious chapter directly related to that period of instability.

While the specific financial terms remain confidential, the state's recovery of funds addresses a grievance over federal management of protest activities on public land. The outcome underscores the ongoing legal and political complexities surrounding energy infrastructure development in the region.

The pipeline itself has continued to operate since coming online in 2017, moving hundreds of thousands of barrels of Bakken crude daily. This settlement deals solely with the aftermath of the construction-era protests and does not affect the pipeline's current operations or pending legal challenges related to its federal permits.