North Dakota Reaches Settlement Over Dakota Access Pipeline Protests

Attorney General Drew Wrigley announces deal to avoid further litigation after court ruling awarded state $27 million in damages.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:55pm

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North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley has announced a settlement has been reached in the state's lawsuit against the federal government over the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. In 2019, North Dakota filed a lawsuit claiming the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilitated the protests, resulting in damages to the state. A U.S. District Court ruled in favor of North Dakota last year, awarding the state $27 million in damages. The settlement will avoid further litigation after the government decided to appeal the court's decision.

Why it matters

The Dakota Access Pipeline protests in 2016-2017 were a major flashpoint, with clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators leading to millions in damages and cleanup costs for the state of North Dakota. This settlement represents a resolution to the long-running legal battle between the state and federal government over responsibility for those costs.

The details

In its 2019 lawsuit, North Dakota claimed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilitated the Dakota Access Pipeline protests by allowing demonstrators to camp on federal land, leading to significant property damage and public safety issues. A U.S. District Court ruled in favor of North Dakota in 2025, awarding the state $27 million in damages. The settlement announced by Attorney General Wrigley will vacate that ruling in order to avoid further appeals and litigation.

  • North Dakota filed the lawsuit against the federal government in 2019.
  • A U.S. District Court ruled in favor of North Dakota and awarded $27 million in damages in 2025.
  • Attorney General Wrigley announced the settlement on March 17, 2026.

The players

Drew Wrigley

The Attorney General of North Dakota who announced the settlement.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The federal agency that North Dakota claimed facilitated the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, leading to damages.

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What they’re saying

“This settlement will avoid further litigation and bring closure to this long-running dispute.”

— Drew Wrigley, Attorney General of North Dakota

What’s next

The settlement will need to be finalized and approved by the courts in order to take effect and vacate the previous $27 million judgment against the federal government.

The takeaway

This settlement represents an end to the legal battle between North Dakota and the federal government over responsibility for the costs and damages stemming from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, which were a major flashpoint several years ago.