Monica Hubbard, associate professor and program lead in the School of Public Service, recently published an article for The Conversation that explains how the Antiquities Act of 1906 affects expansion or reduction of national monuments in the United States.
The Antiquities Act allows presidents to establish or reduce national monuments on federal land. This can lead to uncertainty for land management, Indigenous communities and local economies. It can also make long-term planning efforts difficult.
Legal rulings or congressional action could provide more permanent protections and, despite political battles, public support for protecting these lands remains overwhelmingly strong.