Strong Support for Grand Canyon National Monument Amid Concerns of Future Policy Changes
Arizona voters are showing overwhelming support for the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, according to a recent poll. Nearly 80% of registered voters in the state back the monument, highlighting broad bipartisan approval.
Despite this support, there are concerns among conservation groups and tribes about potential threats to the monument’s status. Anxiety stems from the possibility that a future administration, particularly under former President Donald Trump, could alter or eliminate protections. Trump previously reduced the size of both the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments significantly during his presidency.
Havasupai Chairwoman Bernadine Jones voiced her apprehension regarding Trump’s potential future actions against the monument. However, she remains hopeful due to the strong public backing. “We don’t know what will again be ahead of us in 2025 and so I am so grateful to hear that there is great support for protection of the land,” Jones expressed.
The poll conducted by the Grand Canyon Trust reveals a diverse range of support: nearly 70% of Republicans, 80% of Independents, and 90% of Democrats favor the monument’s preservation.
President Biden’s designation of the monument in 2023 included a ban on new uranium mining claims over nearly one million acres near the Grand Canyon. This decision has faced legal challenges from several Republican state lawmakers, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, and officials from Fredonia and Colorado City, who are contesting the designation in court.
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