President Donald Trump has announced two presidential proclamations to modify two national monuments in Utah, both of which have been points of contention with some in the state. The proclamations will modify both the Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The modifications will drastically reduce the size of both monuments, but will not outright eliminate them.
The announcement comes after months of questioning if the administration would do anything about the size of the monuments, after many people within Utah's congressional delegation have lobbied for a reduction in size of the controversial monuments. The president is acting largely on the advice of Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, as well as his Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who visited Utah earlier this year to tour both monuments and see if modifications in size were merited.
Before making the announcement the president met with leaders of the LDS church and toured Welfare Square. He left shortly after making the announcement, with protesters ending up closing down part of State Street as the motorcade made it's way back to Air Force One.
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