Trump’s Fishing Proclamation Tests His Antiquities Act Powers

President Donald Trump is testing the limits of his power to repeal protections for federal lands and waters under the Antiquities Act with his reversal of commercial fishing bans in four Pacific Ocean marine national monuments.

Environmental groups are already preparing a legal challenge, saying only Congress has the power to modify or repeal a previous Antiquities Act proclamation.

“Trump has no authority to strip protections from the Pacific marine monuments, and we intend to challenge yesterday’s proclamation in federal court,” said David Henkin, a Honolulu-based deputy managing attorney at nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, which is planning to sue ...