Interior chief seeks changes for some protected lands

BILLINGS, Mont. — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced Thursday that he won’t seek to rescind any national monument areas designated by past presidents, but he will press for some boundary changes and left open the possibility of allowing drilling, mining or other industries on the sites.

Twenty-seven monument areas were put under review in April by President Donald Trump, who has charged that the millions of acres designated for protection by President Barack Obama were part of a “massive federal land grab.”

If Mr. Trump adopts the recommendations, it could ease the fears of those who warned that vast public lands and marine areas could be stripped of federal protection. But reductions in the size of the monuments or changes in what activities are allowed on them could trigger resistance, too.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Mr. Zinke said he is recommending changes to a “handful” of sites and suggested some monuments are too large. He previously said Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument is too big.

The White House said only that it is reviewing Mr. Zinke’s recommendations.

Transgender ban drafted

The White House is preparing guidance for the Pentagon to carry out Mr. Trump’s decision to bar transgender people from the military, but the ban reportedly appears to have exceptions for current service members.

18th charity withdraws

The Bethesda Hospital Foundation in Florida said Thursday that it had canceled plans to hold a fundraiser luncheon at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in November, becoming the 18th charity to cut ties with the club after Mr. Trump’s comments on the violent protests in Charlottesville, Va.

Energy Department report

The Energy Department said Wednesday the government should make it easier and cheaper to operate power plants, including coal and nuclear plants, to strengthen the nation’s electric grid.