It seems like Joe Biden isn’t going to let up, even after leaving the Oval Office. Just when you thought things were settling down, he pulls out a couple of classic laws to slow down his old rival, Donald Trump.
First, Biden hit Trump’s plans to drill offshore with a 72-year-old law. And now, he’s back at it with a law that’s even older—one that’s 119 years old! Talk about playing the long game!
So what’s all the fuss about this time? Well, Biden’s using the Antiquities Act, a piece of legislation that dates back to 1906, to protect a massive area of land in southern California. This land, now called Chuckwalla National Monument, covers over 624,000 acres. That’s bigger than some small countries! It’s the largest protected area in the continental U.S.
But that’s not all! Biden also announced the creation of the Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in northern California, bringing the total protected area to a whopping 850,000 acres. Now that’s a lot of land to keep safe for future generations!
Now, you might remember that Trump wasn’t too thrilled about the Antiquities Act back in 2017. He tried to roll back a bunch of national monuments Obama had set up, arguing that they were stopping energy exploration. But Biden’s new actions are throwing a wrench in those plans. With these moves, Biden has now protected 674 million acres of U.S. lands and waters—talk about a green legacy!
But of course, Trump isn’t backing down. At a recent rally in Mar-a-Lago, he vowed to reverse these protections as soon as he steps into office. “We’re going to be drilling soon,” he promised, calling Biden’s actions a “disgraceful decision.”
So, what does this all mean? Well, Biden’s land protections aren’t just political moves—they’re huge steps toward preserving the environment on a truly massive scale. The Chuckwalla National Monument is just the start of what will eventually be the Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor, a 600-mile stretch of protected lands that will also honor Tribal Nations and safeguard wildlife.
It’s clear that Biden’s protecting nature—and his legacy—one ancient law at a time. But whether Trump will manage to undo it all remains to be seen. For now, though, Biden’s making sure that conservation has a seat at the table.
What do you think? Does this move secure Biden’s green legacy, or will it spark a fresh political showdown?
