Today we learned Rep. Rob Bishop is putting forward legislation that would put size and qualification limits on monuments that can be designated under the Antiquities Act, eliminating “natural or geologic features” as objects deserving of protection, and giving the president unprecedented authority to shrink monuments.

“By putting forth this legislation, Congressman Bishop has conceded that President Trump currently has no authority to shrink national monuments,” said Jen Ujifusa, legislative director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “If the rules proposed in this bill would have been in place in the original Antiquities Act, Americans would not be lucky enough to have Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon or Capitol Reef National Parks today—all of which were first protected as national monuments. This is another extreme attack against our public lands from the very congressional delegation that should instead be taking pride in protecting them.”