President Donald Trump has reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah, undoing protections established by his Democratic predecessors on public lands that are sacred among many Native Americans. The move affects Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in southern Utah, which have ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, and scenic canyons, as well as coal and uranium deposits that state officials want made available for development.

Background

The national monuments were established by Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama under the Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the power to protect sites considered historic, archaeologically significant, or culturally important. Trump’s decision to reduce their size by about 90% each has been met with criticism from tribal leaders and conservation groups, who argue that the move will harm the environment and disrespect Native American heritage.

Trump’s administration has sought to expand drilling, mining, and logging on public lands, while removing protections for imperiled species and rolling back rules for conservation. The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape the management of vast taxpayer-owned lands concentrated in Western states.

Reaction

Davina Smith-Idjesa, a citizen of the Navajo Nation and co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, said that tribal leaders had braced for a reduction since Trump was elected to a second term. She described the move as ‘heartbreaking’ and accused federal officials of sidestepping their legal responsibility to consult with tribal nations that would be impacted.

Utah officials, on the other hand, have welcomed the decision, with Governor Spencer Cox calling it a ‘big day for Utah.’ The state has long fought against the monument designations, arguing that they restrict economic development and limit access to public lands.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.