President Trump virtually eliminates Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments
Bears Ears National Monument in Utah
Mason Cummings - TWS
New executive order opens the door to drilling and mining interests
WASHINGTON D.C., July 13, 2026 — President Trump today signed an executive order that virtually eliminates Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah.
Through a proclamation issued Monday, the Trump administration attacked public lands that millions of people rely on for cultural, recreational, economic and health benefits. The action decimates habitat for wildlife and desecrates our treasured natural places.
In response to the news, The Wilderness Society President Tracy Stone-Manning, released the following statement:
“National monuments protect extraordinary wildlife, irreplaceable cultural and Tribal heritage, and our freedom to explore some of our country's iconic landscapes. They belong to all of us. The administration is on the wrong side of history here, ignoring the voices of Tribal Nations, local communities, and the millions of Americans who want these places protected for future generations. As our nation marks 250 years, these public lands should be handed down, not over to drilling and mining interests. The Wilderness Society will fight this attack and stand with everyone working to protect these remarkable places.”
In 2017, during his first term, President Trump led the largest rollback of public land protections in history, slashing Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by 85 and 47 percent, respectively. In response, nearly 3 million Americans rose up in protest. Today, 91% of Western voters, including 87% of self-identified MAGA supporters, believe that existing national monument designations should be kept in place.
Contact: Chelsi Moy, Communications Director, cmoy@tws.org
