FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2026
Senator Lee, Rep. Maloy Introduce Joint Resolution to Undo Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan – 3.4.26
Threatens to bring chaos to a crown jewel of the nation’s public lands system and upend public lands protection as we know it
Contacts:
Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org
Keri Gilliland, Communications Manager, The Wilderness Society; (303) 386-2243; kgilliland@tws.org
Perry Wheeler, Earthjustice, (202) 792-6211, pwheeler@earthjustice.org
Tim Peterson, Cultural Landscapes Director, Grand Canyon Trust; (801) 550-9861; tpeterson@grandcanyontrust.org
Andrew Scibetta, NRDC, (202) 289-2421; ascibetta@nrdc.org
Kris Deutschman, Conservation Lands Foundation, 505-498-0212; kris@conservationlands.org
Washington, DC – Today, the elected officials behind 2025’s failed public lands sell-off attempts – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) – introduced a joint resolution to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). If both chambers of Congress pass the measure by simple majority votes, the plan – which sets expectations for how these remarkable public lands will be managed for recreation, camping and outdoor access, collaboration with Tribal Nations, dark night skies, grazing, and other uses – will be undone and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future. This assault on a national monument marks a significant escalation in Congress’ use of the CRA and – if successful – would lead to chaos on the ground.
This comes on the heels of Senator Lee starting the CRA wheel in motion last week when he submitted the Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion regarding the Monument Management Plan to the Congressional Record. Below are quotes from conservation organizations and additional information:
“Senator Lee and Rep. Maloy’s assault on the Grand Staircase-Escalante is a singular call to action for Americans from across the nation,” said Steve Bloch, Legal Director at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “These wild public lands are quintessential southern Utah redrock country with stunning geology, irreplaceable cultural resources, unique fossils, and wide-open spaces. All of that is at risk if this effort succeeds and the monument management plan is undone. We intend to move heaven and earth to stop that from happening.”
“The Utah delegation appears to be hellbent on undermining our public lands and undoing years of work by local officials, Tribes, and community members,” said Thomas Delehanty, senior attorney with Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office. “Our national monuments belong to the American people and should not be managed in ways that are clouded by uncertainty. This is yet another attempt by Utah politicians to hand over our public lands to industry. Every member of Congress should reject this and any other misguided CRA attack on our public lands.”
“The Utah delegation knows that our national monuments are well-loved by Americans and protecting them is overwhelmingly popular among Utahns regardless of party affiliation,” said Tim Peterson, Cultural Landscapes Director at the Grand Canyon Trust. “The public would not stand for legislation that gets rid of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument outright, so they’re trying to eliminate the commonsense management plan that affords day-to-day protections to the monument. We can’t let that happen.”
“The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is an iconic landscape that is once again at risk of being carved up for short-term gain,” said Axie Navas, director of designation campaigns at The Wilderness Society. “Our national monuments represent our freedom, and they preserve the beauty and stories that define us as a country. We must protect our public lands today so that future generations may inherit a legacy of wonder, inspiration and the enduring promise of America’s best idea.”
“Using the Congressional Review Act to unravel Grand Staircase-Escalante’s management plan is an assault on a national treasure,” said Bobby McEnaney, Director of Land Conservation, NRDC. “It would wipe out years of science and public input and lay the groundwork to make additional attacks on Grand Staircase easier. Americans overwhelmingly support this monument. Congress must reject this reckless effort and honor its commitment to Tribes, local communities, and future generations.”
“Grandstanding on the back of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to appease a select few who want to kick the public out of public lands willfully ignores local communities, business owners, and Tribes who support and rely on the balanced management of national monuments,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation. It also ignores the overwhelming majority of voters in Utah and across western states who want their Congress members to protect these places. It’s a Congressional power grab of the country’s national monuments and public lands, plain and simple, and Americans of all political identities will fight like hell to stop it.”
Additional Information
- February 26, 2026 Press Release – Senator Lee formally begins process to fast-track the destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah – which contains background information on the Monument and the Congressional Review Act.
- The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Inter-tribal Coalition who have spoken against using the CRA on the Monument Management Plan
- Photos of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument can be found here.
- Additional quotes can be found here.
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The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org.
The Wilderness Society is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild places since 1935. Through science, advocacy and partnerships with communities and policymakers, we champion the protection of wilderness, national parks, forests, and other public lands that provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat and the freedom to connect with nature. For more information, visitwww.wilderness.org.
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
The Grand Canyon Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to safeguarding the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, while supporting the rights of its Native peoples. Learn more at grandcanyontrust.org
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).
Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national, nonpartisan network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands.
