Presidio Trust Board Dismissed by President Trump

SAN FRANCISCO - President Donald Trump has dismissed all six appointed members of the Presidio Trust Board, the federal agency that oversees the Presidio of San Francisco. The firing, which took place on April 8, 2026, was communicated via an email from the White House Personnel Office, stating the terminations were “effective immediately”. 

The Presidio Trust is a unique federal agency established by Congress in 1996 to manage the 1,491 acre former military base. Unlike most national parks, the Trust is legally required to be financially self-sufficient. It has operated without federal taxpayer funding since 2013, generating its budget through residential and commercial leases. 

The six dismissed members – Mark Buell, Chuck Collins, Lenore Eccles, Patsy Ishiyama, Bonnie LePard, and Nicola Miner—were all appointees of former President Joe Biden. The White House has not yet announced their replacements.

The dismissals follow a 2025 executive order in which the administration labeled the Presidio Trust an "unnecessary governmental entity.” Despite the removal of the board, Trust officials confirmed that daily operations, including park maintenance and public services, are continuing under the direction of the agency’s professional staff. Local representatives, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, have expressed concern over the move, citing the board’s role in protecting the park’s historical and environmental resources.