Utah Delegation Launches Attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and U.S. Representative Celeste Maloy (R-UT) earlier today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument management plan. 

This unprecedented move is an escalation of recent attempts to destabilize the management of public lands. It threatens recreational access and wildlife habitat within the landscape, ignoring years of community input. This congressional action falls in line with the administration’s larger strategy to hollow out federal agencies and leave public lands in disrepair, so the only option left is to privatize or industrialize them. 

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, located in southern Utah, is a treasure provides Americans with the freedom to experience our nation’s vast public lands. The nearly 1.9-million-acre national monument is a diverse and rugged landscape known for its incredible scenery. It includes cliffs, canyons, plateaus and badlands and offers numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, off-roading, climbing and more. 

Like all national monuments, Grand Staircase-Escalante is beloved, with three in four Utah voters, including a majority of Republicans, wanting to keep its national monument status.   

The land-use plan, finalized in 2025, provides a roadmap for the management of geological features, fragile watersheds, wildlife habitats, native vegetation and recreation to ensure that this cherished landscape remains healthy for future generations. It is the product of more than two years of collaborative planning that involved Tribal Nations, state and local governments, stakeholders and the public.

In response to this news, Axie Navas, director of designation campaigns at The Wilderness Society, said: 

"The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is an iconic landscape that is once again at risk of being carved up for short-term gain. Our national monuments represent our freedom, and they preserve the beauty and stories that define us as a country. We must protect our public lands today so that future generations may inherit a legacy of wonder, inspiration and the enduring promise of America's best idea." 

For media inquiries, contact Keri Gilliland at kgilliland@tws.org.