Doj Argues Trump May Cancel Biden-era National Monuments

The Justice Department says President Donald Trump has nan correct to abolish nationalist monuments established by erstwhile President Joe Biden astatine nan petition of Native American tribes.

In nan last days of his presidency, Biden established nan Chuckwalla National Monument and nan Sáttítla Highlands National Monument to protect hundreds of thousands of acres of onshore successful California. According to Reuters, nan Chuckwalla National Monument protects complete 624,000 acres, while nan Sáttítla Highlands National Monument protects 224,000 acres.

A motion is group up ahead of President Joe Biden's sojourn to nan Chuckwalla National Monument, Jan. 7, 2025, to nan Coachella Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

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The monuments could suffer their position aft a Trump DOJ ineligible sentiment reversed a 1938 determination that presidents did not person nan powerfulness to abolish monuments designated by erstwhile presidents nether nan Antiquities Act of 1906. 

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lanora Pettit based on successful nan sentiment that "for nan Antiquities Act, nan powerfulness to state carries pinch it nan powerfulness to revoke."

In his first term, Trump reduced nan size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments successful Utah, according to the Associated Press. The outlet noted that Trump claimed nan monuments were a "massive onshore grab." However, Biden later restored them during his word successful office.

Then-President Joe Biden wears a ceremonial sash arsenic he attends an arena held to found nan Chuckwalla National Monument and nan Sattitla Highlands National Monument successful California, astatine nan White House successful Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2025.  (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

BIDEN SAYS HE'S BEEN CARRYING OUT ‘MOST AGGRESSIVE CLIMATE AGENDA’ IN HISTORY AS HE DESIGNATES CA MONUMENTS

The DOJ’s opinion, which was released connected Tuesday, has already drawn backlash arsenic Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., slammed nan Trump administration.

"At Donald Trump’s order, his Justice Department is attempting to clear a way to erase nationalist monuments," said Heinrich, who serves arsenic nan ranking personnel of nan Senate Natural Resources Committee. "Here’s what they don’t understand: Our nationalist monuments are astir who we are. They show nan communicative of our ancestors, support jobs and our agrarian economies, and link Americans to our history and nan onshore itself. No president tin erase that."

Heinrich besides vowed to reason Republican efforts "to rip distant our nationalist monuments."

Then-President Joe Biden signs a proclamation establishing Chuckwalla National Monument, astatine nan White House successful Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2025.  (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

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In nan ineligible opinion, Pettit wrote that Biden’s designation of nan caller monuments was portion of a larger effort to create an biology bequest for himself. She besides appeared to discredit Biden’s reasons for designating nan sites arsenic nationalist monuments, including nan creation of much places for outdoor recreational activities, for illustration biking, hiking, hunting and camping.

"Such activities are wholly expected successful a park, but they are wholly unrelated to (if not outright incompatible with) nan protection of technological aliases humanities monuments," Pettit wrote.

There is nary clear denotation if aliases erstwhile Trump would revoke nan position of nan 2 sites established by Biden—or nan position of immoderate different monuments. However, according to Reuters, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said astir nan request to "liberate our national lands and waters to oil, gas, coal, geothermal, and mineral leasing" erstwhile asked astir nan opinion.