DOJ: Trump Can Revoke Protected Land Status

The Justice Department has released a new legal opinion on federal land protection.
According to the DOJ, former President Donald Trump has broad authority to revoke or cancel national monument designations.
This interpretation directly challenges long-standing views under the Antiquities Act.
That law allows presidents to create monuments—but not necessarily remove them.
The DOJ’s memo, dated May 27th, could have major implications.
It may serve as legal justification for reversing monument protections.
The Trump administration previously sought to shrink or eliminate certain protected areas.
Those lands included regions rich in fossil fuel and energy development potential.
Environmental groups have long argued that such reversals violate federal law.
This latest opinion is expected to spark renewed legal and political debate.
Critics say it undermines decades of conservation efforts.
Supporters argue it restores balance between preservation and energy independence.