Trump Considers Reversing Biden's Chuckwalla National Monument Designation Amidst Controversy

The Trump administration is reportedly considering reversing the Chuckwalla National Monument designation, established by President Biden in January 2025. This move has sparked controversy and confusion, especially since a White House fact sheet briefly mentioned terminating proclamations declaring nearly a million acres as new national monuments on March 14, but the line disappeared the following day. The Chuckwalla National Monument encompasses roughly 740,000 acres in eastern Riverside County, California, bordering Joshua Tree National Park. It includes land sacred to Native American tribes and was used for military training during World War II. The Antiquities Act of 1906 allows presidents to create monuments, but legal experts debate whether a president can rescind monuments without Congressional approval. Trump supports opening federal lands for mining and oil and gas drilling, a stance that clashes with the monument's conservation goals. This potential reversal follows a pattern of Trump's administration targeting national monuments. In his first term, Trump significantly reduced Utah's Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, actions later reversed by Biden in 2021. The current situation remains fluid, with conflicting reports and uncertainty surrounding the administration's final decision. Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., has stated that if the designation is rescinded, there will be a strong fight to defend it.