Money Talks

One thing you can count on with the Trump administration: make a donation, get your wish.

President Trump shrinks Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — again

Monuments slashed by about 3 million acres. Utah Republicans applaud the move, while Democrats, conservation groups and tribal leaders vow to fight

Desert News

By Katie McKellar

July 13, 2026

In 2017, during his first term as president, Trump shrank Bears Ears from about 1.35 million acres to roughly 228,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante from about 1.87 million acres to roughly 1 million acres. In 2021, former President Joe Biden restored both of the monuments to their original sizes, to frustration from Republicans and applause from conservation groups and tribes.

This time, Trump shrunk Bears Ears to about 121,000 acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante to about 182,000 acres, according to a news release issued by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s office.

[...]

When he cut the national monuments the first time nearly 10 years ago, Trump’s cuts were applauded by Republican state elected leaders, saying it freed the land from federal control and allowed more public access for hunting, ranching and economic development. Conservation groups and tribes reacted with outrage and lawsuits, arguing Trump lacked the authority to downsize the protections. Bears Ears in particular has deep spiritual and cultural significance for tribes.

This has been an ongoing battle between the Trump and Biden administrations. During his first term, the Trump administration moved to remove the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's reservation land even though they were there to greet the Pilgrims when they landed, from federal trust status, a step that would have effectively disestablished the reservation. The Biden administration later reversed that decision and reaffirmed the tribe's reservation.

And we see it again in his downsizing even though it affect native Americans lands that were set be treaty.

When he cut the national monuments the first time nearly 10 years ago, Trump’s cuts were applauded by Republican state elected leaders, saying it freed the land from federal control and allowed more public access for hunting, ranching and economic development. Conservation groups and tribes reacted with outrage and lawsuits, arguing Trump lacked the authority to downsize the protections. Bears Ears in particular has deep spiritual and cultural significance for tribes.

[...]

Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy said both monuments were created “over the unanimous opposition of Utah’s federal delegation, our governors, county commissioners, the locals who were worried about losing multiple uses on these federal lands.”

However, the People have a different view of it...

“Our Tribes were not informed of or asked about this decision, and that’s unacceptable. The federal government must honor its Trust and Treaty obligations to our Tribes — it is not optional,” Autumn Gillard, inter-tribal coalition coordinator who is a descendent of the Cedar Band of Paiutes, said in a prepared statement. “Today’s action is a direct strike against the federal government’s duty to consult with Tribes. It also profoundly disrespects our intergenerational Traditional Knowledge by destroying a framework for Tribal co-stewardship over our ancestral lands in which we invested years of effort. Today’s action cannot stand.”

Trump just ignores them... they have no wealth to bribe him with. They how no political power. So Trump does what he usually does,

“These are places where Tribal history, culture, and spiritual traditions continue today. Future generations deserve the opportunity to experience these places as they have existed for centuries,” Romero said.

The Center for Western Priorities, a conservation advocacy group, issued a news release after Monday’s signing saying Trump shrunk the monuments “based on false information.”

The group pointed to a moment during the signing when Trump falsely said: “You can’t do anything. You can’t go hunting. You can’t go fishing. You can’t do anything. You can virtually not even walk on it.”

“That’s exactly right, sir,” Deputy Interior Secretary Kate MacGregor told the president in response. “So you are remedying that today.”

Put money before the environment and the welfare of the indigenous peoples. Money is "King"

This reminds me of something from Firesign Theater about stealing from the native peoples:  

I can tell by the pie on your tie

You're an American, well, so am I

Hi bub, How are you? How do ya do?

And while we’re on the subject...

And while we're on the subject..

And while we're on the subject

How’s the old wazoo?

I was born an American

I was raised an American

And I'll die an American

In America, with Armenians.

This land is made of mountains

This land is made of mud

This land has lots of everything

For me and Elmer Fudd

This land has lots of trousers

This land has lots of mausers

And pussycats to eat them

When the sun goes down

"And we took to them"

"And they took to us"

"And what do you think they took?"

Oil from Canada, gold from Mexico

Geese from the neighbors backyard

(Boom, boom)

Corn from the Indians

Tobacco from the Indians

Dakota from the Indians

New Jersey from the Indians

New Hampshire from the Indians

New England from the Indians

New Deli from the Indians!

"Indonesia for there Indonesians!"

Vacancy-No Vacancy  Firesign Theater