WASHINGTON – Major news outlets last night publicized a memorandum by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke that recommends downsizing some national monuments and marine national monuments while increasing extractive resource uses in others. The White House has refused to release the memorandum since Zinke submitted it late last month, and some are speculating that it is because the president does not have the legal authority to reduce or revise monument designations.
Statement from President and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, Jamie Rappaport Clark:
"Secretary Zinke is monumentally and irrationally out of step with the American public. Our national monuments provide critical habitat for endangered and threatened species, and are essential to thousands of species of plants, fish and animals. We understand what the Trump administration does not: national monuments protect irreplaceable parts of our nation’s conservation, cultural and historical legacies.
"The Secretary of the Interior likes to compare himself to Teddy Roosevelt. You, sir, are no Teddy Roosevelt. By blatantly disregarding Native American tribes and communities across the nation, Secretary Zinke has revealed his true motivation – to downsize and sell out our shared natural heritage for damaging resource extraction and short-term profits. Defenders of Wildlife will defend our national monuments against this attack and we will see this administration in court."
For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.
