1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's review of national monument designations under the Antiquities Act threatens to undermine decades of work preserving America's natural and cultural heritage sites. National monuments like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante contain precious archaeological resources, diverse ecosystems, and breathtaking landscapes that belong to all Americans and future generations. Shrinking or revoking these monuments' protections would open them to commercial exploitation, looting, and irreparable damage. We should be expanding our public lands holdings, not dismantling them for the benefit of extractive industries. Our national parks, forests, and monuments are environmental and economic treasures that drive billions in tourism revenue and recreational economic activity each year. Protecting these lands is a sacred trust we must uphold.