Trump Rescinds National Monument Designations

President Donald Trump has taken a bold step to revisit actions from his first term that were later undone by the Biden administration. On Monday, he signed a proclamation drastically reducing the size of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.

The White House has stated that the intent behind this move is to address what they see as the overreach of antiquities laws that restrict the use of public lands. Under this new executive order, the federal land size will shrink from 3.2 million acres to less than 303,000 acres, significantly more than the cuts in his previous term. This area in southern Utah is known for its ancient dwellings and rich mineral deposits.

Reflection on Trump’s First Term

Back in 2017, during a rally at the Utah State Capitol, Trump criticized the expansive boundaries established by previous Democratic administrations, viewing them as a federal overstep. He characterized the reduction of monument borders as a means to restore local governance, stating, “I came to Utah to take a very historic action: to reverse federal overreach and restore rights to this land to the people.” This proclamation was quickly embraced by Utah politicians who have campaigned against federal control of state lands.

However, his first attempt to redefine the monument boundaries sparked swift legal action from Native American tribes and environmental groups, although those lawsuits did not reach a resolution.

The legal battle persisted in federal court without a final decision, remaining unresolved when Biden assumed office in January 2021. Following this, Biden issued his own proclamation that reinstated the previous borders, effectively bypassing the ongoing lawsuits.

Current Developments

Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who was present at the ceremony on Monday, praised the updated executive order as aligning with the original legal frameworks for monument designations. He stated, “Today is a big day for the state of Utah. These monument designations should be the smallest possible areas to protect antiquities,” and added that the changes do not negate existing protections for these lands.

That said, similar to Trump’s first term, this sweeping decision has drawn criticism from several progressive American Indian tribes. They argue that the action undermines tribal sovereignty and threatens sacred sites with potential mining activities.

Environmental lawyers and tribal leaders are reportedly preparing to contest the administration’s authority in federal court, asserting that the president lacks the constitutional power to revoke existing monuments, which could escalate the ongoing legal disputes.

Nonetheless, Trump officials and state representatives have pointed out that the antiquities law requires that monuments be limited to the smallest area necessary for proper management. They argue that the previous administration’s actions were expansive and that the president is empowered to adjust these boundaries in line with the law’s intentions.

Trump has signed two executive orders concerning the transfer of federal land to Utah.