Trump signs a significant downsizing of two Utah monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, cutting about 1.5 million acres of protection to open land for development.

The action reverses protections established under the Antiquities Act and follows through on a broader push to expand resource extraction on public lands.

Supporters say the original boundaries hinder essential mineral extraction, while critics warn the rollbacks could invite mining and erode tribal co-stewardship.

The Biden administration previously restored the monuments’ sizes and created new designations, emphasizing cultural, spiritual, and historic significance.

These monuments illustrate the distinction between presidentially designated monuments and Congress-designated national parks, with management involving agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and NOAA.

The move reflects a broader political divide over federal land management, contrasting Republican emphasis on resource production with Biden-era conservation priorities.

Bears Ears is co-managed with tribal nations and federal agencies, and tribal leaders warn that downgrading protections erodes sacred connections.

Conservationists note that while the Antiquities Act mainly protects, it is historically reversible in practice, citing precedents of downsizing by other presidents.

Utah officials and supporters argue the monuments are oversized; Governor Spencer Cox defended the action and participated in the signing.

The pattern mirrors earlier back-and-forth, with some reductions during Trump’s first term later reversed by Biden, highlighting ongoing clashes over public lands.

Trump framed the move as returning land to the people, signing the order at the White House on a Monday.

Bears Ears holds cultural significance for multiple tribes and contains ancestral sites; Grand Staircase-Escalante features canyons, arches, archaeologic sites, and coal resources, with both currently shielding large areas from drilling and mining.