The Wilderness Society challenges attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (Sept. 2, 2026) — The Wilderness Society this week joined other conservation groups to challenge the Trump administration’s unlawful actions to slash protections for Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments by more than 90%. The conservation groups are represented by Earthjustice in both lawsuits.

Supplemental complaints were filed this week in the District Court for the District of Columbia, along with motions to reactivate the groups’ 2017 litigation challenging the first Trump Administration’s proclamations to dismantle Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments. If the motions are granted, both the 2017 and 2026 rollbacks will be challenged together.

In response to this news, Charlie Luke, The Wilderness Society Utah state director, said:

"Slashing protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments is unlawful and disregards the Tribes who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial. These protections were put in place for a reason: to safeguard cultural resources, wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and the freedom of future generations to experience these lands. The Wilderness Society will continue this fight in court to ensure our treasured Utah national monuments remain protected."

----------

Earthjustice represents The Wilderness Society, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Sierra Club, the Grand Canyon Trust, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Western Watersheds Project, WildEarth Guardians, and the Center for Biological Diversity in the litigation. The Natural Resources Defense Council and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance are co-plaintiffs, represented by their own counsel.

###

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