Trump Dismisses Entire Board of San Francisco's Presidio Trust
President Donald Trump dismissed all six members of the board of the Presidio Trust, the federal entity that manages San Francisco's Presidio national park. The board members, who were appointed during the Biden administration, were notified of their removal via email from the White House on April 12, stating the termination was effective immediately.
The action follows an executive order issued by President Trump in February 2025 that described the agency as an "unnecessary governmental entity."
The Dismissal and Notification
On April 12, President Donald Trump dismissed all six members of the Presidio Trust board. According to Lisa Petrie, a spokeswoman for the Presidio Trust, the trustees were notified of their removal this week.
Board Chairman Mark Buell stated he received a short email from the White House informing him that his termination, and that of the other board members, was "effective immediately." In a statement to The San Francisco Standard, Buell said, "I was surprised that this didn't happen sooner."
The other dismissed board members are:
- Charles M. Collins
- Lenore Eccles
- Patsy Ishiyama
- Bonnie LePard
- Nicola Miner
Background on the Presidio Trust
The Presidio Trust is a federal government corporation established by an act of Congress in 1996. Its mandate is to manage and rehabilitate the Presidio of San Francisco, a former U.S. Army post that was closed and transferred to the National Park Service.
The trust was created to oversee the park's transformation and long-term financial sustainability without relying on congressional appropriations. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose congressional district includes the Presidio, was involved in the legislative effort to create the trust.
The Presidio is now a 1,500-acre national park situated near the Golden Gate Bridge. Its facilities include museums, campgrounds, hiking trails, hotels, and a golf course.
Administrative Context
The dismissals occurred following an executive order issued by President Trump in February 2025. The order described the Presidio Trust as an "unnecessary governmental entity" and called for it to be reduced.
This action is part of a broader series of changes to the federal bureaucracy by the Trump administration, which has dismissed numerous government workers appointed during prior administrations.