Justice Department Approves Trump’s Authority to Alter or Remove National Monuments

The Department of Justice issued an opinion suggesting President Trump has the authority to review and potentially eliminate national monuments, reversing a previous stance that only Congress could do so. This move aligns with efforts by the Trump administration to reduce protected areas for resource extraction and development, sparking criticism from conservation groups and legal experts who emphasize the longstanding legal protections of these sites. The opinion signals possible future actions to diminish or remove national monuments, despite ongoing legal and public opposition.