UTAH — In his proclamations, President Trump stated the reduction would allow lands to be 'put to a higher-priority use' and cited critical minerals important to 'resource independence …[and] national security'. Kate MacGregor, deputy secretary of the Interior, agreed with Utah's argument that the monuments needed to be rightsized. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said in July: "We need to rightsize these monuments. This does not remove the other protections that already exist in those areas. (It's) just making the monuments more manageable."

Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia, said in a statement: "We will not stand idly by while anti-public lands crusaders attempt to exploit these lands for their extractive-industry friends or disrespect tribal nations." Gellert stated that the Antiquities Act allows presidents to establish national monuments but does not give the executive the authority to undo them. He said Trump’s move was an effort to "force secession of federal land to the state and allow private companies to extract natural resources from that land".

Gellert added: "Protecting Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante is worth more than any amount of money. The vast majority of Americans agree." Christy Goldfuss, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said: "These monuments protect places that took millions of years to form. President Trump is trying to destroy them with a stroke of a pen. That cannot stand." Goldfuss said: "Once you open these lands to mining and drilling, what gets lost is not coming back – ancient cliff dwellings, dinosaur fossils found nowhere else on Earth and sacred sites tied to the tribal nations."

Mining claims have been filed in areas that are no longer part of the monuments. At least nine mining claims were filed on areas that lost monument status within a month of the July order. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Earthjustice, Grand Canyon Trust, WildEarth Guardians, the Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, the Center for Biological Diversity, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and the National Parks Conservation Association.

Conservation groups argue that Trump's orders violate the Antiquities Act by reducing monument protections. Conservation groups are seeking a federal court decision that voids both the 2017 and 2026 presidential orders regarding the monuments.

Why It Matters

The legal challenge centers on the scope of presidential authority under the Antiquities Act and the protection of nearly 3 million acres of public land. The reduction has already led to the filing of at least nine mining claims in areas that lost monument status, raising concerns among conservation groups about irreversible damage to archaeological and ecological resources. The outcome of the lawsuit could determine whether future administrations can unilaterally reduce national monuments established by their predecessors.

Bears Ears National Monument is located in San Juan County, Utah, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is in Kane and Garfield counties. The presidential proclamation establishing Bears Ears lists Native American names for the buttes as 'Hoon’Naqvut, Shash Jáa [sic], Kwiyaghatʉ Nükavachi/Kwiyagatu Nukavachi, Ansh An Lashokdiwe', which all mean 'Bears Ears'. The July 17, 2026 Federal Register document modifying Bears Ears cites the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, National Historic Preservation Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Endangered Species Act of 1973, and Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 as federal laws preserving resources within the monument.

Timeline

President Bill Clinton established Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1996. President Barack Obama established Bears Ears National Monument in 2016. Patagonia sued President Trump in 2017 when he first sought to downsize public lands in Utah. A federal judge dismissed Utah's lawsuit against the Biden restoration in 2023. The state of Utah appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit later in 2023.

President Donald Trump approved an order in July reducing the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by approximately 90%. The July order reduced Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres.

What's New

The July order reduced Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres. Steve Bloch, legal director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, said: "With the filing of these lawsuits, we intend to make sure Trump doesn't have the final word over the fate of these treasured landscapes." Utah Governor Cox said in July: "We need to rightsize these monuments. This does not remove the other protections that already exist in those areas. (It's) just making the monuments more manageable." Steve Bloch said: "We'll be watching closely for on-the-ground mischief like new mining claims and illegal vehicle use and are ready to swing into action to protect the monuments from any activities that can leave lasting damage." The July order split Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument into Escalante and Kaiparowits Horizon units.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding Bears Ears National Monument. The July 17, 2026 Federal Register document modifying Bears Ears National Monument cites the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, National Historic Preservation Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Endangered Species Act of 1973, and Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 as federal laws preserving resources within the monument. The Presidential Proclamation issued by Donald Trump in July 2025 states the July order reduced Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres.

Sources differ on details regarding Grand Staircase. Ryan Gellert said: "Protecting Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante is worth more than any amount of money. The vast majority of Americans agree." Presidential Proclamation issued by Donald Trump in July 2025 states President Donald Trump approved an order in July reducing the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by approximately 90%. Presidential Proclamation issued by Donald Trump in July 2025 also states the July order reduced Bears Ears National Monument to approximately 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to approximately 182,000 acres.

Sources differ on details regarding national monuments. Athan Manuel, director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program, said: "President Trump cannot erase America's national monuments with the stroke of a pen. The Antiquities Act gives presidents the authority to protect places like Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears, not dismantle them for mining and other industrial interests."

Sources differ on details regarding Escalante national monuments. The U.S. District Court complaint filed by Patagonia and conservation groups states Patagonia joined a federal lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's decision to reduce the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah.

Sources differ on details regarding Escalante national. Presidential Proclamation issued by Bill Clinton in 1996 states President Bill Clinton established Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1996.

Sources differ on details regarding Bears Ears. Presidential Proclamation issued by Barack Obama in 2016 states President Barack Obama established Bears Ears National Monument in 2016.

Sources differ on details regarding the President. The U.S. District Court complaint filed by the State of Utah states the state of Utah filed a lawsuit after President Joe Biden reversed Trump's initial 2017 order, arguing the monuments were a "glaring misuse of the Antiquities Act."