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

• Never miss global breaking news. Download our free app to keep up with key stories in real time.

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 Chuckwalla national monument in southern California and the 224,000-acre Sáttítla 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.