Lawsuit Challenges Biden’s Massive California Desert Monument
President Biden’s designation of the 624,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in California is facing a legal challenge. A lawsuit, filed by a conservative think tank on behalf of a Michigan resident with mining claims and a recreation advocacy group, alleges that Biden exceeded his authority under the Antiquities Act. The plaintiffs argue the monument’s size violates the Act’s mandate for minimal land use and interferes with their existing land use rights. Conversely, supporters contend the designation protects sacred tribal lands, wildlife, and historical sites, citing prior precedent for large-scale monument creation. The outcome of this lawsuit could significantly impact the future of national monument designations and potentially reach the Supreme Court.
John Q. Hosedrinker