A comprehensive — and controversial order — by newly confirmed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directs a review of withdrawals of federal lands.
When federal lands are “withdrawn” by federal agencies, it means the public or private interests can no longer use the land in certain ways. This upends their multiple-use function by disallowing activities like cattle grazing, geothermal or other clean energy development and of course the extraction of minerals through mining or oil and gas exploration.
The withdrawals have other restrictions that impact recreation economies. The reviews will be conducted by both the Interior and the Agricultural departments.
One group, the Center for Western Priorities, issued a statement Tuesday that says the order comes with a 15-day deadline, and calls for the review and possible revision of all national monuments and mineral withdrawals established by past U.S. presidents.
“President (Donald) Trump and Secretary Burgum are headed down the wrong path with this monument review. The last time Trump attempted to shrink national monuments, his efforts were met with near-universal condemnation,” said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities.
“They should stop now, before they upset millions of Westerners by illegally reducing or eliminating national monuments. Voters want national monuments protected in perpetuity, not opened for drilling and mining. Coming on the heels of the National Park Service hiring freeze, this move shows blatant disregard for Westerners and America’s public lands.”
The organization said Burgum’s call for a review of national monuments goes against the majority of public opinion.
Former Gov. Doug Burgum, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the the Interior Department as Secretary of the Interior, testifies before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana)
But the line calling for the review of federal land withdrawals does not mention the word monument and a department spokesman said such a conclusion would be “pre-decisional” to make any assumptions about what those reviews might look like because they have not even started. The office did say there is nothing in the language that would preclude a review of monuments, however.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, pressed Burgum during a committee hearing on Utah’s struggles with the federal government, particularly the Bureau of Land Management, when it comes to its oversight of the land it manages.
Lee brought up the issue of the creation of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments which have been altered in size by multiple administrations.
He wants Burgum to visit Utah and see the vast monuments for himself and wanted a commitment from him to work with locals.
“I would look forward to working with you, and particularly in the area of local consultation, because when the federal government overreaches into a state like yours, that’s already over 60% of its land in (federal) lands, and restricts that use, it’s got tremendous impact on tribes, on the local communities and all those around and I just think it’s important that we strike the right balance,” Burgum said.
Pushed by environmental groups and Native American tribes, President Barack Obama created the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah in the waning days of his term in 2016, setting aside 1.35 million acres of land in southeast Utah. His designation came after a tour to the area by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
Then, when President Donald Trump took office, he sent Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on the same mission — to assess the southeast monuments.
Both were greatly reduced in size.
The drama of the dueling executive orders didn’t end there.
As opponents feared and supporters had hoped, President Joe Biden reinstated the larger monument designations after a trip by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
The state of Utah and several impacted counties sued the federal government, but it was tossed out of court in 2023. Monument designations are on a dramatic pendulum swing depending on who sits in the Oval Office, leading critics to complain the Antiquities Act has been used for designations far beyond what was envisioned, leaving such designations termed a political football.
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