Rep. Grijalva Responds to Trump Administration's Dismantling of National Monuments

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva condemned Donald Trump's attempt to slash the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. During a virtual press conference with advocates, tribal leaders, and other Members of Congress, she pledged to continue fighting in Congress to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bears Ears, and all public lands.
Below is a copy of Congresswoman Grijalva's full remarks.
Watch the full press conference here .
"Good morning, everyone. Buenos días.
Thank you to The Wilderness Society, the Sierra Club, our Tribal and Indigenous leaders, and my colleagues for bringing us together today. And thank you to everyone who continues to fight for our public lands, our sacred places, and the Tribal Nations that have protected them.
This Administration is systematically rolling back protections for public lands, sidelining meaningful Tribal consultation, and putting extractive industries ahead of the people, wildlife, and cultural resources these places sustain.
Arizona has already experienced the consequences. Despite the objections of the Tohono O'odham Nation, construction of a second border wall destroyed portions of the Las Playas Intaglio Archaeological District—an irreplaceable cultural landscape located in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.
Now, the Administration is preparing to lease more than 208,000 acres of public land in Arizona for oil and gas development near the Grand Canyon—even though we know those lands hold little to no viable oil or gas resources. So the obvious question is: if the resources aren't there, why are these protections being stripped away?
After yesterday's decision, we need to remain vigilant in protecting all of our sacred areas.
Because this has never been about responsible land management. This Administration is handing over public lands to private interests while ignoring the voices of Tribal Nations and the overwhelming majority of Americans who support protecting these places.
Our national monuments preserve history; they support local economies, outdoor recreation, tourism, wildlife habitat, clean water, and the quality of life that millions of Americans value. These lands belong to all of us—not just this Administration, and certainly not to the highest bidder.
I will continue standing alongside Tribal Nations, conservation advocates, and communities across Arizona and across this country to defend our public lands, protect our sacred places, and ensure these monuments remain part of our shared national heritage for generations to come.
Thank you. Muchas gracias."
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