How is it that you believe the decision will be made in Washington? Unless I'm mistaken, the only decision controlled by Washington is the decision whether or not to defend the BLM challenge in court. You're absolutely right that, if it was the administration's intention to kill the project, they could effectively do that by not defending the BLM decision. 

But the administration supporting the project, either very actively or in a more subdued manner, does not guaraentee a positive outcome in the courts, which is the only place that the project is at any risk, really. 

In that way, IMHO, the final word will come from the courts.