Conservation Group Tracks Public Lands Policy Shifts

The Conservation Lands Foundation released a new report detailing 12 Trump administration policy actions affecting public lands.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in National Parks

Conservation Group Tracks Public Lands Policy Shifts

Live Poll

Should the federal government prioritize resource extraction over the conservation of public lands?

The Conservation Lands Foundation recently released the Public Lands Attack Tracker, documenting a series of policy shifts aimed at federal land use. These actions include the removal of protections from 34.8 million hectares and the expansion of oil and gas drilling.

Why it matters

The administration intends to use these policy changes to prioritize energy exploration and the extraction of critical minerals like silver, copper, and uranium. This shift seeks to prioritize extractive industries over former land conservation efforts.

In July 2026, the administration reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument by approximately 90% from 1.36 million acres to 121,000 acres. Similarly, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was reduced from 728,000 hectares to 73,450 hectares.

The players

Conservation Lands Foundation

This organization is a national non-profit that works to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands.

President Donald Trump

He is the current President of the United States and has directed the administration's policies regarding federal lands and resource extraction.

The details

The administration issued two proclamations in July 2026 to shrink monument boundaries while also repealing the public lands rule and weakening the Endangered Species Act. These moves are currently the subject of legal challenges brought against the administration.

Between 2024 and 2026, the administration implemented various public lands policies.
In July 2026, the administration reduced the size of two national monuments by 90%.
In October 2026, the Conservation Lands Foundation released its tracker.

Travel Outlook

These actions extend the administration's strategy of de-prioritizing conservation in favor of extractive industries, mirroring historical shifts in land management. This approach marks a significant departure from the protections previously afforded to the Endangered Species Act.

Visitors to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante may find significant changes to land access as monument boundaries have shrunk by 90%. Travelers should check updated federal land maps before planning trips to these areas to ensure they remain within authorized zones.

The takeaway

The recent tracker highlights a major shift toward prioritizing mineral and energy extraction across millions of hectares of federal territory. Readers interested in public lands should monitor court proceedings regarding monument boundaries to understand potential future access changes.