Trump reduces size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments

President Donald Trump approved a reduction of nearly 1.5 million acres from each of two Utah national monuments held sacred by tribes.

• Trump signed an executive order on Monday reducing the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, undoing protections established by former presidents.
• Trump said the Antiquities Act designations were too large and that the land was being "given back" to the people.
• Republican Governor Spencer Cox stated the monument designations exceed the smallest area necessary to protect antiquities.
• Environmental law firm Earthjustice announced it will take legal action to maintain protections for the monuments.