Trump Slashes Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase‑Escalante Monuments

On July 13, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that reduced the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase‑Escalante national monuments in Utah by roughly 90%, removing about 2.9 million acres of protected land. The move, described by American Hunters & Anglers as the largest rollback of federal public‑land protection in U.S. history, was carried out despite opposition from 65 % of Utah voters and 91 % of Western voters. Supporters of the monuments note that hunting, fishing and recreation have long been permitted in the areas, and they dispute Trump’s claim that such activities are now banned. The decision follows a broader pattern of federal land actions, including a large June lease of Colorado acreage for oil and gas development by the Bureau of Land Management.