On a significant day for the state of Utah, President Donald Trump made headlines by reducing the size of two national monuments: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. This decision reversed protections that were previously established by former presidents, which aimed to safeguard public lands that hold deep cultural significance for many Native Americans.
Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are not just picturesque landscapes; they are home to ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and breathtaking canyons. These sites also contain valuable natural resources like coal and uranium, which some state officials are eager to access for development purposes.
In a proclamation made under the Antiquities Act, Trump reduced the size of both monuments by approximately 90%. This action is part of a broader trend seen during his administration, where efforts have been made to expand drilling, mining, and logging on federal lands while relaxing conservation rules. Trump’s remarks at a signing event emphasized his viewpoint: “They took the land from the people quite honestly. We’re giving it back.”
It’s important to note that these monuments were established by past Democratic presidents. Grand Staircase-Escalante was created by Bill Clinton in 1996, while Barack Obama designated Bears Ears in 2016, both aiming to protect sites deemed historically and culturally significant. The Antiquities Act of 1906 empowers presidents to designate national monuments to preserve such areas.
Davina Smith-Idjesa, a member of the Navajo Nation and co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, expressed her dismay at the recent changes, stating that the actions taken by federal officials sidestepped their legal responsibilities to consult with tribal nations affected by these decisions. “From a Navajo perspective, Bears Ears is not simply a piece of federal public land,” she explained. “This is a living cultural site that holds our histories, our ceremonies, our traditional foods and medicines, and our ancestors’ footprints.”
Utah’s state officials have long contested the national monument designations, arguing that they should have control over their lands. Trump has echoed this sentiment, labeling the creation of these monuments a “massive land grab.” Together, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante encompass over 3.2 million acres, an area nearly the size of Connecticut.
“This is a big day for Utah,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox during the announcement. He emphasized that the purpose of national monument designations is to protect the smallest area necessary for safeguarding antiquities.
Bears Ears holds unique significance as the first national monument established at the request of tribal nations, recognizing its sacredness to five tribes in the region: Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, and Uintah-Ouray Ute. The landscape features ancestral villages, ceremonial sites, and elements integral to the creation stories of these tribes.
Grand Staircase-Escalante boasts stunning geological formations, including cliffs, canyons, and archaeological sites, along with significant coal reserves. The designation of these national monuments not only protects important features but also restricts activities like drilling and mining in the surrounding areas, which proponents argue are essential for preserving the landscape.
Trump’s administration has taken a different approach compared to President Biden, who expanded protections for numerous monuments and aimed to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. Trump’s policies favor tapping into the natural resource wealth of federal lands, which cover more than 100,000 square miles.
This shift in focus has led to strong opposition from Democrats and conservationists, who warn that such actions threaten precious landscapes for commercial gain. Former Interior Secretary Doug Burgum indicated that the administration would review national monument boundaries as part of its push to enhance U.S. energy production.
While the Supreme Court has affirmed the president’s authority to establish national monuments, the question of whether Trump has the power to alter existing monuments remains debated. Efforts to sell or transfer federal lands to states have faced significant pushback, including a recent Supreme Court decision rejecting Utah officials’ attempts to gain control over public lands.
As the debate over public lands continues, the actions taken regarding Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante highlight the ongoing tension between conservation efforts and resource development in the United States.
Reported by Hannah Schoenbaum from Salt Lake City.
