The National Monuments are in peril after the Interior Secretary Doug Burgun issued a Secretarial Order “Unleashing American Energy.” This calls for a 15-day internal review of oil, gas, and mining on public lands. This includes the protected national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act from 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.
This is a dangerous step towards ruining the protection of National Monuments for unrestrained fossil fuel and mining development, even though many of these areas have been protected for over a century, by both Republican and Democratic governments. Even places like Devils Tower, the first ever National Monument designated by President Roosevelt in 1906, would be facing the risk of industrial development.
The National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA) has reviewed this order, and identified key monuments at risk of losing the federal protections. Some of the biggest are Devils Tower, Dinosaur, Hovenweep, and more.
In addition to potential development in the National Monuments, the government is taking steps to diminish the already installed protection. Park staffing is being cut drastically, and plans have been announced to close visitor centers, museums, and other important facilities. With the reduced staffing we are already seeing limited opening hours at visitor centers and closed sections of parks.
Amid this 9% staffing cut, the National Park Service reported a record setting 331,863,358 visitors in 2024. To expand more into detail, the government eliminated 1000 probationary staff, freezing vacant permanent positions and delayed the hiring of seasonal employees. The administration has also called for the cancellation of 34 Park Service building leases that house visitor centers, law enforcement offices, and museums for critical programs, like the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Site in downtown Seattle, Washington.
There are a also record number of supporters who are refusing to let this go down easily and are partnering with the NCPA. People all across the political and economic spectrum who are lucky enough to experience the natural beauty of this country have been realizing that they want to make it last for their children, grandchildren, and their grandchildren. Wedding proposals, family vacations, and solo backpacking memories hold deep within the landscape of the National Parks and Monuments.
