Trump Shrinks Utah Monuments, Reviving 120-Year-Old Law Debate

A 120-Year-Old Law Under Scrutiny

President Donald Trump signed two proclamations on Monday, drastically reducing the size of two national monuments in Utah. The move affects Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments. The changes came nearly 120 years after the Antiquities Act of 1906 was passed.

The proclamations reduced the protected areas of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante by 90%. Bears Ears, a monument established in 2016, was shrunk from 1.35 million acres to 228,784 acres. Grand Staircase-Escalante was reduced from 1.9 million acres to 1 million acres.

Can Trump Unilaterally Undo Monument Designations?

The Antiquities Act gives the President the authority to designate national monuments without Congressional approval. Trump is the first president to significantly reduce the size of a national monument since the law was enacted. The move has sparked a long-running legal dispute over the limits of presidential authority.

Critics argue that the Antiquities Act does not give the President the power to shrink or abolish monuments. The reduction in size has been met with opposition from environmental groups and Native American tribes, who claim that the monuments were established to protect cultural and historical sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

The decision to reduce the size of the monuments has raised questions about the President's authority under the Antiquities Act. The law was enacted to protect historic and cultural sites from looting and destruction. Trump's move has been seen as a challenge to the law's intent.

The reduction in size is expected to have significant consequences for the environment and local communities. The changes may lead to increased mining and drilling activities in the affected areas.