Biden's National Monument Designations Spark Controversy.

President Biden designated two new national monuments in Nevada and Texas, protecting nearly 514,000 acres of public lands from development. Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada is sacred to indigenous groups and is home to species including Joshua trees, desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and Gila monsters. Castner Range in Texas was a testing and training site for the Army during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War and contains archeological sites significant to Indigenous tribes. The administration also announced an Ocean Climate Plan and guidance aimed at promoting habitat connectedness in the decisions made by federal agencies.