"Utah Leaders and Biden Clash Over New Grand Canyon National Monument"
Utah leaders, including Governor Spencer Cox and Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, have expressed their opposition to President Joe Biden's announcement of a new national monument within the Grand Canyon. The Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, encompassing nearly 1 million acres of public land, is the fifth establishment of such a monument under the Biden administration. While Native American tribes and environmentalists have long advocated for safeguarding the area, conservatives and Utah Republicans argue that Biden has overstepped his authority and that the monument designation will impact mining interests and access to minerals like uranium. The opposition highlights a recurring battle between local and federal control over land designations.