Statement in Response to July 13 Presidential Action Modifying the Bears Ears National Monument
A presidential proclamation on July 13, 2026 reduced the size of Bears Ears National Monument by more than 90 percent and terminated a commission of Tribal leaders that has helped guide stewardship efforts at the monument.
“The canyon walls and mountain cliffs of Bears Ears echo with 12,000 years of human history. Reducing this monument puts this sacred landscape, foundational to our shared history as Americans, at risk,” said Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We stand with Native American tribes and fiercely oppose the order to strip protections from this irreplaceable historical landscape. The National Trust, the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, and other organizations will continue our advocacy to strengthen and restore protections for Bears Ears.”
The Bears Ears landscape in Utah is rich with archaeological resources, prehistoric cliff dwellings, paleontological resources, and sites sacred to many Native American tribes. Revoking its national monument status threatens to open the area to mining, oil and gas drilling, and harmful infrastructure development.
The National Trust has long advocated for the protection of Bears Ears, adding it to our National Treasures program in 2014, listing it as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2016, advocating for its designation and protection as a national monument, and opposing earlier moves to revoke its original monument designation.
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About the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a
privately-funded nonprofit organization dedicated
to helping communities maintain and enhance the
power of historic places. Chartered by Congress in
1949 and supported by partners, friends, and
champions nationwide, we help preserve the places
and stories that make communities unique. Through
the stewardship and revitalization of historic
sites, we help communities foster economic growth,
create healthier environments, and build a
stronger, shared sense of civic duty and belonging.
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