In a move that marks one of the most significant threats to public lands in recent American history, the Biden administration announced on Monday that former President Donald Trump’s 2024 decision to drastically reduce two of Utah’s most iconic national monuments—Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante—has been rolled back, restoring protections to almost 2 million acres. However, the controversy surrounding this decision continues to unfold, with critics warning of irreversible loss to cultural heritage and natural wonders.
Under the Trump administration’s latest action, approximately 3 million acres of land—roughly 90% of the original size—were carved away from Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Bears Ears shrank from about 1.35 million acres to just 121,000, while Grand Staircase-Escalante was reduced from approximately 1.9 million acres to 182,000. These lands are not only breathtaking landscapes featuring ancient cliff dwellings, rock art, and sprawling canyons, but they also harbor rich archaeological and paleontological treasures, including dinosaur fossils. Beyond their cultural and scientific significance, beneath the surface lie coal and uranium deposits long targeted by industrial interests.
During a ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump appeared flanked by Utah’s all-Republican delegation, defending the move as “returning the land to the people.” But which people?
Members of multiple tribes—including the Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, Zuni, Hopi, and Navajo nations—say they learned of the land’s reduction through the media, not as part of any consultation process. These tribes have historically maintained profound spiritual and cultural ties to the lands, which were protected by federal agreements and treaties. Leaders from these nations argue that the federal government violated its trust and treaty obligations, which mandate meaningful consultation before altering lands held sacred or historically significant.
What makes this action even more contentious is its legal basis—the Antiquities Act of 1906, signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt. The law grants presidents the authority to establish national monuments but does not explicitly authorize presidents to diminish or revoke those established by their predecessors. Critics, including conservation groups and legal experts, argue that Trump’s reduction of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante was both unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional. Earthjustice, a prominent environmental law organization, has announced plans to sue, asserting that the move is illegal and sets a dangerous precedent for public land protections.
This isn’t the first time Trump has attempted to alter these monuments. In 2017, he shrank Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante before Biden restored their protections in 2021. Now, with their boundaries once again diminished, the land remains in limbo, vulnerable to destruction and industrial exploitation.
The core issue extends beyond legalities. As critics point out, the land holds intrinsic value that transcends political whims. These sites have been protected for generations because they hold stories, spiritual significance, and natural beauty that cannot be replaced once lost. Yet, with oil rigs and mining trucks already eying the region, time is running out for these irreplaceable treasures.
In essence, the recent actions reveal a troubling dynamic: a prioritization of extractive industries over the preservation of cultural and natural heritage—an effort to hand over a public inheritance to private interests, with little regard for the voices of the indigenous communities and the American public who cherish these lands.
We are paying attention—and it’s up to all of us to stand for the protection of these sacred lands and the legacy they hold for future generations.
