Utah Voters Reject Monument Cuts but Favor Local Control of Public Lands

A recent poll commissioned by one outlet-Hinckley Institute of Politics and fielded by Morning Consult reveals Utah voters are largely against President Donald Trump's decision to cut roughly 3 million acres from the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. While 56% expressed opposition and 29% expressed support, attitudes varied by party affiliation, with Democrats overwhelmingly opposed and Republicans split.

Despite this, 82% of respondents want state or local governments to dominate public-land decision-making, and many favor amending federal law to require congressional consent for future monument designations. The survey also showed strong backing for grazing (72%) and moderate support for timber cutting, road construction and off-road vehicle use—activities that current monument protections limit. Legal scholar Megan Jenkins of the Pacific Legal Foundation noted the apparent disconnect between opposition to monument reductions and support for broader federal land use. The findings come as Utah battles severe wildfire season, with over 536,000 acres burned, highlighting the tension between conservation policies and resource-use preferences.