Trump Administration Further Reduces Utah National Monuments

President Donald Trump has significantly decreased the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, reigniting debates over conservation, public lands, and presidential authority. On Monday, Trump signed executive orders reducing nearly 3 million acres from monument protection in southern Utah. This move follows previous reductions during his first term, intensifying efforts by Trump administration officials and congressional Republicans to expand activities like drilling and mining on public lands.

During the signing event at the White House, Trump expressed that the land was taken from the people and is now being returned. However, the White House did not offer further comments when approached for more information. A comparison map published by Newsweek shows the transformed boundaries initiated by Trump relative to former President Joe Biden’s restorations. Trump’s latest reductions go beyond his 2017 adjustments.

Details of the Monument Reductions

Trump signed these proclamations in the Oval Office with Utah Governor Spencer Cox and members of the state’s congressional delegation present. Under Trump’s orders, Bears Ears National Monument has been cut from around 1.36 million acres to about 121,000 acres. Similarly, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has been reduced from around 1.87 million acres to roughly 182,000 acres. Together, these changes remove nearly 3 million acres from monument protection. Trump stated the previous boundaries were unfair to Utah residents, aligning with state officials who claimed the monuments exceeded necessary size to protect historical and archaeological resources.

This resembles Trump’s first administration’s actions in 2017, where he significantly reduced both monuments’ sizes.

Historical Changes to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante

Grand Staircase-Escalante was originally established by President Bill Clinton in 1996, safeguarding nearly 1.9 million acres known for geological features and paleontological finds in southern Utah. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated Bears Ears National Monument following advocacy by Native American tribes citing thousands of culturally important sites. The 2017 reductions by Trump led to lawsuits from tribes and environmental advocates. Biden restored their original boundaries in 2021, reversing prior reductions.

Trump’s recent orders diminish Bears Ears to 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante to about 182,000 acres, offering protection to a fraction of their original size.

Legal Challenges Looming

Environmental and tribal groups have quickly opposed the reductions, signaling potential legal challenges. Earthjustice critiqued the orders as undermining key cultural and natural landscapes, asserting monuments’ protection of Native American heritage, archaeology, and sensitive environments. Heidi McIntosh from Earthjustice stated the reductions were illegal under the Antiquities Act, emphasizing the group’s readiness to defend the monuments.

The Center for Biological Diversity reiterated concerns, suggesting the cuts may permit mining and development in previously conserved areas, endangering wildlife habitats and cultural resources. Davina Smith-Idjesa of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition highlighted the land’s cultural significance to Diné people, stressing its role in tradition and unity. The decision, she argued, weakens longstanding efforts to preserve Bears Ears.