President Trump reduces Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante once again

KANE COUNTY — President Donald Trump on Monday signed proclamations dramatically reducing the size of Grand Stair­case-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments, reviving one of Utah’s longest-running public lands debates and setting the stage for anoth­er round of expected court challenges.

For Kane County, the decision carries particular signifi­cance. Grand Stair­case-Escalante Na­tional Monument en­compasses much of southern Kane County and has shaped public land management, tourism, recreation and local politics since its creation by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Under the proc­lamations, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will be reduced from approximately 1.87 million acres to about 181,500 acres. Bears Ears National Monu­ment will shrink from roughly 1.36 million acres to about 121,100 acres.

The action largely reverses monument boundaries restored by President Joe Biden in 2021 after Trump first reduced both monu­ments in 2017.

The affected lands remain federal public lands managed pri­marily by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. The White House said the revised boundaries continue protecting significant historic, cultural and scientific resources while allowing sur­rounding lands to re­turn to multiple-use management.

Administration offi­cials said the changes restore what they de­scribe as the “small­est area compatible” with protecting those resources, as required by the Antiquities Act. Supporters, including Utah’s Republican leadership, argue the previous boundaries extended well beyond what was necessary.

Opponents, includ­ing tribal leaders and conservation organiza­tions, condemned the action and said they plan to challenge the proclamations in fed­eral court, arguing the reductions threaten cultural sites, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.

For residents and visitors, few immediate changes are expected. Roads, trailheads and recreation opportuni­ties generally remain unchanged, and the land does not change ownership because of the proclamations. Any future changes to land management or permitted uses would occur through sepa­rate federal processes.

The Southern Utah News will continue reporting on local reac­tion, what the changes could mean for Kane County, and the legal challenges expected to follow.