Progressives are pressuring Hillary Clinton to take a stand on the Dakota Access oil pipeline — and some political analysts say she is stalling to avoid angering labor unions, The Hill reports.
"I think she, as a typical politician, would like to stall and not take a position, because she can't afford to antagonize labor. And labor is very pro-pipeline," Aseem Prakash, a University of Washington political science professor, told the political news website.
The Obama administration appears to have walked away from the project by refusing to grant federal permissions. But Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has said little about it, causing frustration.
"We definitely need Secretary Clinton to make a statement on it ... We don't know where she stands," Jane Kleeb, president of Bold Alliance which opposes fossil fuel pipelines, told the Hill.
According to the unions, last month's decision to cease considering awarding the project a federal permit threatens the livelihoods of 3.5 million workers.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.