Protective public lands in Utah; the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments are being scaled back as the White House clashes with conservation policy.
Trump's orders have reduced national monument sizes in Utah, reopening decades-long battles over land protections under the Antiquities Act. Biden previously restored boundaries and expanded protections, while legal questions about unilateral changes persist. The shift has sparked backlash from conservationists and tribes, and from Utah officials seeking more development room.