President Donald Trump has signed a presidential permit authorizing the Bridger Pipeline expansion, a move that effectively clears a major federal regulatory hurdle for a project designed to transport hundreds of thousands of barrels of Canadian crude into the United States.

Signed on Thursday, April 30, the authorization allows Bridger Pipeline LLC to construct and operate border facilities in Phillips County, Montana. The 36-inch pipeline is intended to carry approximately 550,000 barrels of oil per day to Guernsey, Wyoming. 

Trump, who has frequently pledged to prioritize domestic energy production and infrastructure, predicted the project would create "a lot of jobs."

The permit covers the pipeline’s border crossing, including a shut-off valve and pumping station within 2,000 feet of the boundary.

Industry analysts view the project as a "quasi-revival" of the Keystone XL pipeline, which was canceled in 2021 after years of political and legal battles. 

The Bridger route originates near the same border crossing intended for Keystone XL, raising the possibility that existing infrastructure from the defunct Keystone XL  project could be repurposed. 

In Canada, several segments of the Keystone line were completed and left underground before the project was halted by the previous administration.

The approval comes amid heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs on steel and vehicles. 

However, the signing suggests that energy infrastructure remains a priority for the Trump administration despite broader diplomatic friction.

"The Government of Canada remains focused on strengthening Canada’s position as an energy superpower," said Charlotte Power, a spokesperson for Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also lauded the decision on social media, stating that the province would continue to deliver energy to "help secure North American energy dominance."

South Bow Corp., which spun off from TC Energy in 2024, is currently evaluating the "Prairie Connector," a potential expansion that would move crude from Hardisty, Alberta, to the U.S. border to meet the Bridger system. 

Spokesperson Solomiya Martoiu noted the project remains in the early stages of commercial and regulatory evaluation.