{
  "id": 1451540,
  "title": "Mining executives bought stock in their own firm days before Trump shrank Bears Ears",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/mining-executives-bought-stock-in-their-own-firm-days-before-trump",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-17T08:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Grist",
    "slug": "grist",
    "url": "https://grist.org/indigenous/mining-executives-bought-stock-in-their-own-firm-days-before-trump-shrank-bears-ears/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Congressional Democrats launched an investigation into Energy Fuels, a Denver-based mining company, after its CEO, Ross Bhappu, and board chair, Bruce Hansen, purchased significant amounts of the company's stock just before President Trump reduced the size of Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah. Energy Fuels operates the White Mesa Mill, the last conventional uranium processing site in the United States, which was situated near the monument boundary.\n\nOn July 7, 2026, Bhappu bought 74,000 shares, increasing his ownership to 41 percent of the company. Board chair Hansen acquired 4,000 shares the following day. Less than a week later, Trump reduced Bears Ears National Monument by 90 percent, making the land available for mining.\n\nLess than two weeks after Trump's decision, the Bears Ears Commission, composed of five Tribal Nations, criticized the move, stating that it would weaken protections for a culturally significant area that has been managed by Indigenous peoples for centuries. The commission's statement was released shortly after congressional Democrats announced they had opened an investigation into Energy Fuels.\n\nThe lawmakers expressed concern that the monument boundary reduction could benefit Energy Fuels, as the White Mesa Mill is located less than a mile from the monument's former boundary. The company maintains that it is unaware of any wrongdoing and that it follows all federal, state, and local regulations. Energy Fuels also noted its commitment to protecting communities and the environment and its role in strengthening domestic supply chains.\n\nMeanwhile, the second Trump administration has been actively promoting domestic mining of critical minerals, including uranium, to bolster national security. Energy Fuels recently secured a $725 million loan from the Department of Defense to develop rare earth elements in Utah and announced a $3 billion investment in mining critical minerals and battery projects. However, the company faces allegations that it has been involved in improper activities, such as secretly transporting radioactive materials through tribal lands and posing a risk to water quality and public health in the region.",
  "summary": "House Democrats have opened an investigation for insider trading.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}