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Trump Sharply Cuts the Size of Two National Monuments in Utah
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump signed executive orders reducing the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah by nearly 3 million acres, cutting them to less than 10 percent of their original size.
- These sites are significant for their wildlife habitats and Native American archaeological sites, making the reductions highly controversial.
- Similar reductions were made during Trump’s first term but were later reversed by President Biden after legal challenges from tribes and environmentalists; new lawsuits are expected in response to the latest cuts.
- The legal battle over the president’s authority to shrink national monuments could have broad consequences for land conservation and potentially affect many other monuments nationwide.
- This move is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to promote development and recreational activities on federal lands, including easing restrictions on off-road vehicles in national parks.
