Trump reduces size of Utah's Bears Ears and Grand Staircase‑Escalante monuments

President Donald J. Trump signed two executive orders on Monday that reduced the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase‑Escalante national monuments in Utah. The orders, issued from the Oval Office, trim the protected acreage of each monument, returning portions of the land to the jurisdiction of the state and local governments. Trump explained that the new designations “give more than we did the first time back to the people of Utah,” referencing the larger boundaries established by the Obama administration in 2016.

The changes come after a series of adjustments to the monuments’ boundaries. Since their creation, the protected areas have seen their sizes expand and contract as federal and state agencies negotiate land use and conservation priorities. The current orders reverse some of the earlier expansions, shifting responsibility for the reclaimed lands to the state and private interests while maintaining the core protected zones.

The executive orders are part of a broader effort to balance federal conservation mandates with local development interests. They will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which will oversee the implementation of the new boundaries and any associated management plans. The adjustments are expected to affect land use, tourism, and conservation activities within the affected regions.