National Monuments, Public Lands, & Presidential Power

Back in 2025, the Department of Justice issued a legal opinion stating that presidents may have authority not only to create but also to revoke national monuments established by prior presidents. So what does this mean for protections for national monuments and public lands like the Grand Staircase and Bears Ears National Monument? On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes professor of law, Mark Squillace from the University of Colorado Law School, as they spotlight national monuments, public lands, and presidential power. Craig & Mark discuss the DOJ’s legal opinion on national monuments, monument and public land protections, Congressional authority, the Antiquities Act of 1906, conservation law, and federal land management.