Trump Reduces Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Monuments by Nearly 3 Million Acres, Reversing Biden Expansions

President Trump signed two executive orders on July 13 reducing the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah by nearly 3 million acres combined. The orders reverse expansions made during the Biden administration. Utah Gov.

Spencer Cox and the entire Utah congressional delegation attended the signing. "We’re doing something very dramatic and very important for the people of Utah and the people of our country because many people use it," Trump said. " Cox said the Antiquities Act requires monument designations to cover the smallest area possible to protect antiquities.

"These multi-million-acre monuments, larger than the state of Delaware, certainly do not fit that designation," he said. Cox noted that Utah has seven national monuments ranging from approximately 700 to 7,000 acres each. He said the larger designations leave no resources for protection.

Grand Staircase-Escalante covers 1.9 million acres and was created in 1996 by President Clinton. It was reduced by Trump in 2017 and restored to its current size by Biden in 2021. Bears Ears covers 1.35 million acres and was designated in 2016 by President Obama before a 2017 reduction by Trump.

The Antiquities Act was enacted in 1906. Utah is over two-thirds owned by the federal government, with counties containing the monuments more than 90 percent federal land.