White House sparks uncertainty over fate of two major California national monuments

New White House fact sheet has removed references to Chuckwalla and Sattitla national monuments

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The White House is fueling speculation over plans to eliminate two large national monuments in California established by former president Joe Biden.

Less than a week before leaving office, Biden designated the 624,000-acre (250,000-hectare) Chuckwalla national monument in southern California and the 224,000-acre Sattitla Highlands national monument in northern California. Native American tribes consider these lands sacred and had urged Biden to protect them from drilling, mining, clean-energy development and other industrial activity.