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No time to waste in restoring our national monuments

Apr 12, 2021

By Center for Western Priorities

On his first day as president, Joe Biden directed the Interior Department to evaluate whether his administration should reverse or modify President Trump’s egregious decision to dramatically shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. Last week, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited southern Utah to hear from local communities, Native American tribes, and elected officials as she prepares recommendations for President Biden. After her trip, it is clear there is strong support for restoring protections for both national monuments and that failing to act quickly will leave these landscapes vulnerable to looting, vandalism, and the pressures of increased visitation without sufficient management tools.