Trump reduces Bears Ears and Grand Staircase monuments

Sandstone rock formations rise in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, one of two Utah national monuments that President Donald Trump reduced in size on Monday. ©James Marvin Phelps

Appearing in Utah on Monday, President Donald Trump shrank the size of two of the state’s national monuments by about 2 million acres. Trump decreased Bears Ears National Monument by about 85 percent and cut Grand Staircase-Escalante roughly in half. Several environmental groups filed a lawsuit to block the actions, and other environmental organizations and tribes say they also intend to sue.

For more, read the full story in the New York Times.