Earlier today, President Trump announced his intentions to significantly reduce protections for two national monuments. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation issued the following statement:

“On June 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law to protect areas of natural, cultural, or scientific significance. Presidents across parties and generations protected over 125 sites in our great nation, from breathtaking mountain ranges to underwater canyons.

This April, the Trump administration ordered a review on 27 national monuments, including five marine national monuments, and the use of the Antiquities Act with the intention of reducing protections and shrinking boundaries for many of them. People from all walks of life submitted over 2.8 million comments to the Department of Interior expressing support of protecting monuments. Today, President Trump announced his intent to significantly reduce the boundaries and protections for Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante, despite clear public support for continued protection for these awe-inspiring places.

Here at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, we see firsthand the benefits of protecting these places and the importance of preserving America’s conservation legacy. These treasured lands and waters belong to the American people and we stand behind the Antiquities Act.”