Trump White House Announces Plan to Eliminate California National Monuments, Then Deletes It

In a surprising turn of events, the Trump administration briefly announced plans to eliminate two national monuments in California before quickly retracting the statement. The initial announcement, which surfaced on March 17, 2025, stated that President Trump intended to abolish the Giant Sequoia National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. However, the White House deleted the announcement from its official website and social media platforms within hours, leaving many to speculate about the intentions and the sudden reversal.

The Giant Sequoia National Monument, established to protect the world's largest trees, and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, known for its scenic beauty and biodiversity, are significant conservation areas in California. The proposed elimination of these monuments sparked immediate backlash from environmental groups, local communities, and conservationists, who argued that the move would jeopardize critical habitats and undermine decades of conservation efforts.

Representatives from the White House have not provided a clear explanation for the announcement or its subsequent deletion. Some speculate that internal disagreements or legal concerns might have prompted the retraction. The incident has reignited debates over federal land management policies and the Trump administration's approach to environmental conservation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and state environmental agencies have vowed to protect these monuments, emphasizing their importance to the state's ecological health and tourism industry. As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will revisit the proposal or if the national monuments will continue to be safeguarded.

• Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
• California
• Gavin Newsom
• Giant Sequoia National Monument