Trump Cuts Utah National Monuments by More Than 90% to Expand Grazing, Logging and Resource Developm

BY MIRABEL ODETA

President Donald Trump has signed executive proclamations dramatically reducing the size of two major national monuments in southern Utah, a move the White House says will expand opportunities for grazing, logging, motorized recreation, mining, and other forms of resource development across millions of acres that were previously protected under federal conservation rules.

The action reduces the Bears Ears National Monument from approximately 1.36 million acres to 121,100 acres, while the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will shrink from about 1.87 million acres to 181,500 acres. Together, the changes remove federal monument protections from more than 2.9 million acres of public land, making it one of the largest reductions of protected federal land in U.S. history.

Trump announced the decision during a White House event attended by Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Republican Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, all of whom have long supported reducing the size of the monuments. Speaking at the ceremony, the president described the move as an important step for both Utah residents and the nation, arguing that the land should be more accessible for activities that support local economies and public use.

The White House said the revised monument boundaries are intended to provide greater flexibility for land management while allowing expanded access for ranching, forestry, outdoor recreation, and responsible development of natural resources. Administration officials argue that the previous monument designations placed unnecessary restrictions on communities that rely on public lands for economic activity and limited opportunities for industries that support jobs throughout the region.

Supporters of the decision have long argued that large national monument designations give too much authority to the federal government while limiting the ability of states and local communities to manage public lands. Utah officials have maintained for years that many of the affected areas can be responsibly used for grazing, recreation, and resource development without compromising significant historical or environmental sites.

Environmental organizations, however, strongly criticized the decision, warning that reducing the monuments could expose sensitive landscapes, archaeological sites, wildlife habitat, and culturally important locations to increased development. Conservation groups argue that the lands contain irreplaceable natural and historical resources that deserve permanent federal protection.

Earthjustice announced that it intends to challenge the proclamations in court, saying it will pursue legal action to preserve protections for what it described as some of the nation’s most treasured public landscapes. The organization argues that the reductions are inconsistent with the purpose of national monument designations and could place valuable cultural and environmental resources at risk.

Bears Ears National Monument was established in 2016 by former President Barack Obama under the Antiquities Act. Named after two distinctive rock formations that resemble the ears of a bear, the monument contains thousands of archaeological sites, ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, ceremonial locations, and other cultural resources. The area holds deep spiritual and historical significance for several Native American tribes, many of which have advocated for continued federal protection of the landscape.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was created in 1996 by former President Bill Clinton. The monument is internationally recognized for its colorful sandstone cliffs, canyons, plateaus, and desert landscapes. It has also become one of the world’s most important paleontological research areas, with scientists discovering numerous dinosaur fossils and previously unknown prehistoric species there over the past several decades.

This is not the first time Trump has sought to reduce the size of the Utah monuments. During his first term, he signed proclamations significantly shrinking both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, arguing that the original boundaries were excessively large and placed unnecessary restrictions on land use. Those changes became the subject of extensive legal disputes before former President Joe Biden restored the monuments to their previous boundaries after taking office.

The latest action effectively reverses the Biden administration’s restoration and revives a long-running debate over how federal public lands should be managed. Supporters believe reducing monument boundaries will encourage economic growth, create new opportunities for local industries, and provide greater access to land for recreational users and businesses. Opponents argue that the decision threatens landscapes with exceptional scientific, cultural, and environmental value while weakening protections that have been in place for decades.

Native American tribes that have historically supported Bears Ears protections are also expected to oppose the new proclamations. Tribal leaders have repeatedly emphasized that the monument contains sacred sites, ancestral villages, ceremonial grounds, and artifacts representing thousands of years of Indigenous history. Many tribal organizations have argued that preserving the landscape is essential to protecting their cultural heritage for future generations.

Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich of neighboring New Mexico criticized the administration’s decision, accusing it of prioritizing the interests of major industries over the protection of America’s public lands. Heinrich also argued that the administration had once again failed to adequately consider the concerns of Native American tribes and local communities that support maintaining stronger federal protections for the monuments.

The decision is expected to trigger another lengthy legal battle over presidential authority under the Antiquities Act, the century-old law that allows presidents to establish national monuments. While presidents have frequently created or expanded protected areas using the law, the extent of a president’s authority to substantially reduce existing monuments remains one of the most closely watched legal questions involving federal public lands.

As legal challenges move forward, the future management of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante is once again likely to become a major national issue, reflecting the broader debate between conservation efforts and expanded economic use of public lands. The outcome of the expected court cases could have lasting implications not only for Utah’s iconic landscapes but also for how future administrations manage and protect federally owned land across the United States.