Sierra Club Statement on Trump Administration’s Attack on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressional Republicans began the process of overturning the management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah.

These members of Congress are utilizing a baseless interpretation of the Congressional Review Act, which only allows Congress to disapprove of administrative rules, to attempt to overturn the monument's management plan. Both Democratic and Republican administrations have never previously considered monument management plans to be "rules" that are subject to the CRA.

Grand Staircase-Escalante was established as a national monument in 1996 to protect unparalleled geological, ecological, and paleontological resources in southern Utah. Since its designation, the monument has attracted millions of visitors and contributed more than 3,000 new jobsto a growing local economy. It was the first monument managed by the BLM and was the first unit in the agency's National Conservation Lands program.

This is not the first time Donald Trump has come after national monuments. In 2017, Trump illegally attempted to shrink the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante. The monument's original borders were reaffirmed in 2021.

In response, Dan RItzman, Director of Conservation at Sierra Club, released the following statement:

"Invoking the CRA against national monument management plans is unprecedented, unlawful, and an assault on public participation in stewarding our public lands," said Dan Ritzman, Sierra Club's Director of Conservation. "Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of this country's most treasured public landscapes, and the public has been involved from advocating for its protection to organizing its long-term management. Overturning this plan erases years of public engagement and Tribal consultation, and threatens certainty for everyone who uses and enjoys this iconic landscape."

Franque Bains, Sierra Club Utah Chapter Director, released the following statement:

"Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of Utah's treasures. Not only is it important for scientific research, preserving Native American history and culture, and biodiversity-it has proven to be an economic success for the community. Support for the local economy will be undercut if the lands that bring visitors are damaged."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.