President Trump signed executive orders Monday that dramatically reduce the footprint of two sprawling national monuments in Utah—Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante—reigniting a long-running political battle over federal land management.
“We’re actually giving more than we did the first time back to the people of Utah,” Trump said during an Oval Office signing ceremony. The move marks the latest swing in a decade-long tug-of-war between Republican and Democratic administrations over the size of these protected areas.
During his first term, Trump slashed Bears Ears by about 85% and cut Grand Staircase-Escalante by nearly half. President Biden later restored both monuments to their original boundaries. Now Trump has reversed those restorations, returning the monuments to their smaller configurations.
Grand Staircase-Escalante, created by President Bill Clinton in 1996, is known for its striking rock formations and has yielded significant dinosaur fossil discoveries. The area attracts hikers, campers, canyoneers, and off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
Bears Ears, designated by President Barack Obama in 2016, protects ancestral Puebloan sites, rock art, and climbing areas. It also offers backpacking and river rafting opportunities.
Utah officials have long opposed the larger monument boundaries, arguing they stifle economic development and block mining operations. In 2022, the state sued to challenge Biden’s restoration, claiming it harmed local economies.
The back-and-forth over these monuments underscores the broader national debate over federal land use—pitting conservation and tribal heritage against resource extraction and state autonomy. Trump’s latest orders are likely to face legal challenges from environmental groups and Native American tribes.
As the administration continues to push aggressive energy and land policies, the Utah monument fight could become a flashpoint in the 2024 campaign. For more on Trump’s foreign policy moves, see our analysis of his Hormuz blockade strategy.
