Trump Fires All Six Presidio Trust Board Members, Leaving San Francisco's 1,500-Acre National Park Without Leadership
The White House dismissed every Biden-appointed trustee of the federal agency that manages the Presidio, a former Army post turned self-funding national park that generates $182 million a year.
President Trump terminated all six members of the Presidio Trust's board of directors this week, removing the leadership of the federal agency that manages one of America's most valuable urban national parks.
The White House notified Chairman Mark Buell and five fellow trustees — Vice Chair Chuck Collins, Lenore "Leni" Eccles, Patsy Ishiyama, Bonnie LePard, and Nicola Miner — by email. The termination was "effective immediately." No replacement trustees have been announced.
"I was surprised that this didn't happen sooner," Buell told reporters. "We serve at the pleasure of the president."
The firings follow a February 2025 executive order in which Trump labeled the Presidio Trust an "unnecessary governmental entity" and directed that its "non-statutory components and functions shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." The order gave the agency 14 days to report to the Office of Management and Budget on which of its functions are legally required.
What the Presidio Trust manages
The Presidio spans 1,500 acres at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge — a former Spanish fort and U.S. Army post that Congress converted into a national park in 1996. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi helped establish the Trust through legislation that created a seven-member board: six appointed by the president, one by the Interior Secretary.
The Trust has been financially self-sustaining since 2013, generating $182 million in revenue in 2024 and contributing $1.1 billion in value to the national park system. It houses 200 commercial tenants and 2,900 residents. In 2023, the Department of the Interior awarded the Trust $200 million — secured by Pelosi through the Inflation Reduction Act — for aging utilities and infrastructure.
What happens next
Only Congress can abolish the Presidio Trust. The Trust can continue operating without board members, though major decisions typically require board approval.
Pelosi called the firings "disappointing" and said "San Francisco and indeed the nation are indebted to the board members for their leadership and their dedication to our beloved national park." She added that "the Presidio Trust will continue to be protected by the strength of the legislation which created it."
Buell, departing, framed the Presidio as a model: "The Presidio is the most successful example of a Post to Park conversion in the country and should serve as a model for others."
CEO Jean Fraser had already announced plans to step down in 2026, meaning the Trust now faces a leadership vacuum at both the board and executive level. Three of the six removed trustees had terms expiring in May 2025; three others would have served through May 2027.