Trump dramatically slashes size of Utah national monuments sacred to tribes
President Trump has approved a sharp reduction in the size of two national monuments in Utah that are held sacred by many Native Americans, reversing protections established by previous administrations. The move, which opens the lands to development, has drawn criticism from tribal and environmental groups.
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order drastically reducing the size of two national monuments in southern Utah: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. These monuments are considered sacred by numerous Native American tribes. Trump stated that the reduction is "close to a million and a half acres each" and that the land is being returned to the people.
The areas contain ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, scenic canyons, as well as coal and uranium deposits that state officials want to make available for development. This is the second time Trump has reduced these monuments; the first was in 2017, but the Biden administration later reversed that decision.
Utah's Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who attended the signing event, defended the reduction, arguing that under the Antiquities Act, monument designations should be the smallest area possible to protect antiquities. He said that multimillion-acre monuments larger than Delaware do not fit that designation.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates and tribal representatives who have fought for years to protect the monuments. Earthjustice, an environmental law firm, announced it would take legal action, stating that the Antiquities Act authorizes presidents to designate national monuments, not to destroy them. Davina Smith-Idjesa, a citizen of the Navajo Nation and co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, called the move "heartbreaking" and accused federal officials of failing to consult with affected tribes.
This step is part of a broader Trump administration and Republican effort to expand drilling, mining, and logging on public lands while rolling back conservation rules. Bears Ears was the first national monument protected at the request of tribal nations, and it is jointly managed by an agreement between tribes and federal agencies. Grand Staircase-Escalante features cliffs, canyons, arches, and archaeological sites, including rock paintings, and holds large coal reserves.
Democrats and conservationists warn of the wholesale disposal of treasured landscapes for commercial gain. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had previously said that federal officials would review national monument boundaries as part of a push to expand U.S. energy production.
