US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce the size of two national monuments in Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears. The decision reduces the Grand Staircase-Escalante from approximately 1.87 million to approximately 181,500 acres and Bears Ears from approximately 1.36 million to approximately 121,100 acres, potentially opening large areas to mineral, oil, and gas extraction. The announcement was made at the White House in the presence of Utah Governor Spencer Cox and state senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, all members of the Republican Party. Trump stated that the measure is of fundamental importance for the people of Utah and the country. During his first term in 2017, Trump had already reduced the size of the two national monuments. The decision was subsequently reversed by the Biden administration. The Bears Ears monument was established in 2016 by then-President Barack Obama and hosts cultural and archaeological sites significant to several Native American tribes. The Grand Staircase-Escalante was established in 1996 by then-President Bill Clinton and is known for numerous dinosaur fossils discovered in the area over the past two decades. Both sites feature the iconic red rock formations and canyons of Utah. Environmental organizations have criticized the decision. Scott Braden, executive director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, stated that the initiative will bring uncertainty to places that should be protected for their biodiversity, geology, and cultural values. The organization Earthjustice announced legal action to maintain the protection of these landscapes.