Civic Register
| 12.5.17

Trump Shrinking Utah National Monuments

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UPDATE – December 5, 2017: Making good on their threats, a coalition of Native American tribes and conservation groups have filed lawsuits over President Donald Trump’s decision to shrink two national monuments in Utah.

“Through the Antiquities Act, Congress delegated to the president the limited authority to designate national monuments and retained to itself the power to revoke or modify national monuments,” the tribes wrote in a statement about Bears Ears National Monument.

“The proclamation signed by President Trump today is so extreme that it revokes and replaces Bears Ears and thereby violates the Antiquities Act and seizes authority that the Constitution vests solely in Congress.”

The lawsuits are joined by protests by a number of outdoor retailers, including Patagonia, which tweeted:

Countable’s original story appears below.

What’s the story?

President Donald Trump is in Utah today where he’s expected to announce a 77 to 92 percent reduction of Bears Ear National Monument.

Why does it matter?

The Trump administration, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, have been pushing for fewer restrictions and more development on national monuments—including drilling and mining.

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican, has pressed Trump to either eliminate or shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. He called the President’s decision a "win for everyone."

But conservationists and Native Americans don’t consider it a victory. Both groups have said any changes would violate the 1906 Antiquities Act, and have vowed to take legal action.

"We will stand and fight all the way," said Russell Begaye, president of the Navajo Nation. “We have suffered enough.”

What do you think?

Additional national monuments are on the chopping-down block. Should the federal government open up lands previously protected under national monument designation for energy development, like drilling and mining? Use the Take Action button to tell your reps what you think.

—Josh Herman

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(Photo Credit: John Fowler via Flickr / Creative Commons)