DOJ: Presidents Can Revoke National Monument Status | JQJO

The Justice Department issued a legal opinion asserting that presidents possess the authority to revoke national monument designations made by predecessors. This challenges a 1938 ruling against rescission under the Antiquities Act. The opinion could justify significant reductions in protected land, potentially aiding fossil fuel development. The memo cites examples of monuments altered during Trump's presidency and Biden's subsequent restorations. Environmental groups strongly oppose the DOJ's interpretation, arguing it contradicts longstanding legal precedent and public support for land conservation.