Brand-New Sáttítla Highlands National Monument Faces Uncertain Future Under New Executive Order

The fate of Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in Northern California is in jeopardy after recent actions by the federal government signaled potential plans to abolish the protected land.

The uncertainty began when President Trump signed an executive order revoking over a dozen Biden-era policies. While the order did not explicitly mention Sáttítla Highlands or Chuckwalla National Monument, a White House fact sheet initially suggested that nearly a million acres of protected land could be eliminated. The language was later removed without explanation, leaving conservationists and Native American tribes, who pushed for the monument’s creation, in limbo.

“We’ve advocated for the protection of this area through many administrations,” said Brandy McDaniels, who leads the Sáttítla Highlands effort for the Pit River Nation. “It is unfortunate that now we’re in limbo about what happens.”

Sáttítla Highlands, designated a national monument in January, was established to protect sacred Indigenous lands and crucial ecosystems. However, Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Doug LaMalfa, have criticized the monument as government overreach. Meanwhile, environmental and tribal groups warn that rescinding its protections would threaten cultural heritage and fragile landscapes.

Legal experts suggest that Trump’s attempt to revoke the monument could face immediate legal challenges, as past presidential efforts to shrink national monuments, like Utah’s Bears Ears, led to prolonged court battles.

If the administration moves forward, it could set a precedent for dismantling other protected public lands—a move likely to spark nationwide backlash and legal action.