A newly published U.S. Justice Department memo could open a path for President Donald Trump to roll back protections for millions of acres of federal lands and oceans. … The 50-page legal opinion provides guidance on the Antiquities Act, concluding the president has grounds to abolish two national monuments in California established in January by his predecessor Joe Biden. The Justice Department determined an opinion from the U.S. Attorney General nearly a century ago was incorrect. The DOJ found Trump has the power to abolish or reduce the size of national monuments established by other presidents. … Opponents (of the Antiquities Act) say it gives the federal government too much control over the resources within hundreds of thousands of acres of land and ocean and is sometimes inconsistent with other federal laws that require more public involvement. … Proponents say it allows presidents to move swiftly to protect vulnerable lands and waters, and it has broad public support due to the benefits of designating a site a monument.

Related articles:

• Active NorCal: Mount Shasta’s new national monument could be erased by federal government
• Wyoming Public Radio: Trump can undo national monument protections, DOJ says
• Inside Climate News: Across the country, locals rally to protect national monuments threatened by the Trump administration