The Trump administration is reviewing national monument boundaries to potentially expand U.S. energy production, with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordering a review by Feb. 18, raising concerns among conservation groups about shrinking or eliminating monuments like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah. Trump previously reduced monument sizes, citing a “land grab,” while Biden restored protections; legal challenges remain unsettled. Burgum’s actions align with a push to unlock energy potential and economic development, drawing praise from oil industry groups but facing criticism from Democrats and environmentalists over the declaration of a national energy emergency and potential impact on culturally and geographically significant sites.
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Donald Trump’s Transgender Order Blocked by Reagan-Appointed Judge
Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek's National Correspondent in London, reports on a federal judge's decision to block President Trump's executive order transferring transgender women to men's prison facilities. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit filed by three transgender women, citing Eighth Amendment violations. The ruling suspends Trump's order until further legal proceedings. Full Article
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