Trump

The change of presidential administrations and a federal district judge in Washington, DC, could free up for final construction the stalled $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) project in the next weeks. A start-up of the nearly 1,200-mile pipeline for moving Bakken oil from North Dakota could happen in May, according to analysts.

President Trump signed executive orders Monday calling for a federal hiring freeze and withdrawing the United States from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.

President Trump’s nomination of Rex W. Tillerson as secretary of state was favorably approved Monday afternoon in a roll call vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, after Republican committee holdout Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida withdrew his objections. The former ExxonMobil Corp. chief was expected to be confirmed easily by the GOP-led Senate.The vote divided along party lines, and the defection of even one GOP committee member could have denied Tillerson the committee’s favorable recommendation. Because of severe weather which delayed the arrival of some members by the meeting’s start at 4:30 p.m. EST, Chairman Bob Corker conducted a roll call vote, which affirmed Tillerson. However, the meeting was kept open to allow those members unable to attend to issue comments later in the evening.

The Trump administration said it plans to boost domestic energy production and increase drilling, especially on federal lands, while also scuttling “burdensome” environmental proposals unveiled during the Obama years, according to an updated White House website.

The Trump administration said it plans to boost domestic energy production and increase drilling, especially on federal lands, while also scuttling “burdensome” environmental proposals unveiled during the Obama years, according to an updated White House website.

North Dakota is concerned about the “strict timeline” regarding a settlement between environmental groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over oil and natural gas waste handling.

If confirmed as President-elect Trump’s Secretary of State, former ExxonMobil Corp. CEO Rex W. Tillerson said he would recuse himself for one year from matters directly related to his 41-year employer.

U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Timothy Massad on Tuesday tendered his resignation to President Obama, effective Jan. 20 — the same day that Donald Trump, who has indicated he will dismantle many of the regulations implemented during Massad’s tenure, is to be inaugurated.

Donald Trump may face a fight in Congress during the confirmation process for some of his Cabinet picks, with bipartisan concerns about ExxonMobil Corp. CEO Rex Tillerson, his unorthodox choice to become secretary of state.