Trump Dramatically Cuts Size of Two National Monuments Held Sacred by Tribes

Donald Trump’s latest executive order has starkly highlighted his administration’s hostility towards America’s cultural heritage. The reduction in size of two national monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, is the latest chapter in a long-running saga that has seen this president systematically undermine efforts to preserve the country’s natural and historical treasures.

Trump’s move is not just about reducing the size of these monuments; it’s also about rewriting the rules for managing America’s public lands. By undoing protections established by previous presidents, Trump is opening the door for corporate developers and the oil and gas industry to exploit these precious resources.

The idea that Trump is restoring land “taken from the people” is a revisionist fantasy with no basis in fact. The Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the power to grant legal protections to historic, archaeologically significant, or culturally important sites, has been used by both Democratic and Republican administrations to safeguard America’s cultural heritage. These monuments were designated because they are irreplaceable treasures that hold deep spiritual significance for Native American communities.

The fact that Trump is following through on a promise made during his first term – when he reduced the size of these monuments – only serves to highlight his administration’s brazen disregard for the law. The Biden administration’s efforts to restore protections for these monuments are being rolled back with alarming speed, as if the previous administration’s actions were somehow illegitimate.

Trump’s policies have far-reaching implications that extend beyond these two national monuments. His push to expand US energy production and tap into the natural resource wealth of federal lands has drawn a sharp backlash from Democrats and conservationists. The Biden administration’s goal to conserve at least 30% of US lands and waters by 2030 is being dismantled, replaced with a vision that prioritizes commercial gain over environmental protection.

Trump’s interior secretary, Doug Burgum, had already signaled the administration’s intention to review and redraw the boundaries of national monuments. This was part of a broader push to expand US energy production, which has been accompanied by a sharp increase in oil and gas leasing on public lands. The resulting landscape is one where the interests of corporate developers are given precedence over those of local communities and Native American tribes.

As Earthjustice’s Heidi McIntosh noted, “President Trump’s attack on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments is just as illegal today as it was in 2017.” The law may not be on his side, but Trump has always been more interested in pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable than in upholding the rules.

The battle to protect America’s cultural heritage will only intensify as Trump continues to dismantle the protections put in place by previous administrations. For now, one thing is certain: the future of these national monuments hangs precariously in the balance, threatened by an administration that seems hell-bent on exploiting America’s natural resources for short-term gain.