At the opening breakfast of the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell blasted President Donald Trump’s review of two dozen national monuments.
“President Trump is playing games with our public lands, treating the monuments like they are contestants on a game show,” said Jewell, who was formerly CEO of REI. “But the consequences, as you know, are real and devastating and create uncertainty for businesses and uncertainty for residents.”
The comments were her first publicly on the subject since leaving her Cabinet position. She served as Interior Secretary in the administration of President Barack Obama.
She also noted that while congress is allowed to review monuments, a president isn’t. Jewell further said that if any monument designations are revoked, the current president will be remembered as the worst conservationist in U.S. presidential history.
She added, “This review is deeply, deeply unpopular and out of step with what the vast majority of Americans want.”
In April, Trump signed an executive order directing the review of 27 monuments created by executive action since 1996. Current Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s final report on the review is due next month. A downsizing of the Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah is already being recommended.
The Outdoor Retailer shows move to Denver next year was due to a spate with Utah officials over public lands.
Photo courtesy The Inertia
