President Trump is expected to sign two presidential proclamations or executive orders on Monday, July 13, that would reduce the size of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments, according to reports from media outlets including ABC4.
Conservation groups denounce anticipated orders
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) issued a statement on July 10, 2026, condemning the anticipated administration action as "unlawful, unwise, and unacceptable." The conservation group characterized the potential reduction of these southern Utah landscapes as an attempt to open protected lands to exploitation at the request of Utah politicians.
SUWA Executive Director Scott Braden stated that the move would bring uncertainty and chaos to regions that should be protected for their unique geology, rich biodiversity, and remarkable cultural values. Braden noted that both Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears are highly popular with both Utahns and Americans.
Wildfires burn as monument status shifts
The potential reduction comes amid ongoing environmental challenges in the region. Nate Blouin, writing on X, noted that the threat to shrink the monuments arrives while the largest wildfire in the United States is currently burning through pristine landscapes in southeastern Utah.
Blouin also highlighted that this unprecedented move by the Trump administration is expected to occur without input from the ancestral inhabitants of the region.
History of Grand Staircase protections
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was originally designated in 1996 to protect 1.9 million acres of scientific, ecological, and paleontological resources. It served as the first monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and was the inaugural unit in the agency's National Conservation Lands program.
Following a period of significant reduction under the Trump administration in 2017—which saw the monument slashed by 47 percent, or roughly 900,000 acres—the boundaries were restored to their full, original size on October 8, 2021, via a proclamation by President Biden.
Tribal significance of Bears Ears
Bears Ears National Monument was established on December 28, 2016, through an exercise of authority under the Antiquities Act by President Obama. The proclamation provided a new layer of protection for southern Utah and elevated the voices of Tribal Nations with ancestral ties to the area, covering nearly 100,000 archaeological and cultural sites.
The monument's management is shaped by the Bears Ears Commission, which includes the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Pueblo of Zuni, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Ute Indian Tribe. These nations have worked through a collaborative planning process to develop a land management plan that synthesizes Tribal perspectives.
Legislative and legal battles
The legal and legislative battle over these lands has been ongoing for years. In December 2017, President Trump eliminated large portions of both monuments, reducing Bears Ears by 83 percent into two non-contiguous units totaling less to than 230,000 acres. This action left various sites vulnerable to hardrock mining claims, off-road vehicle damage, and vegetation removal projects.
While President Biden restored the boundaries of both monuments, recent legislative efforts have attempted to undo those management plans. In June 2026, attempts by Utah Senator Mike Lee and Representative Celeste Maloy to overturn the management plans through the Congressional Review Act failed.
Ongoing court interventions
Litigation regarding the monuments remains active in the court system. In August 2023, a Federal District Court Judge in Utah dismissed lawsuits brought by the State of Utah and the Blue Ribbon Coalition that challenged President Biden's use of the Antiquities Act to restore the boundaries.
Following an appeal, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals held oral arguments on September 26, 2024, and issued a decision on June 23, 2026. SUWA and nine other conservation organizations, along with four Tribal nations, have intervened in the proceedings to defend the restoration of the monuments.
