Trump Seeks to Abolish Presidio Trust in Controversial Executive Order

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — In a surprising move on Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at abolishing the Presidio Trust, the federal agency responsible for managing the 1,500-acre Presidio National Park in San Francisco. The order defines the trust as ‘unnecessary’ and is part of a broader initiative to downsize the federal government.

The executive order, titled ‘Reducing the Size of the Federal Government,’ also calls for the elimination of other agencies including the Inter-American Foundation and the United States African Development Foundation. Trump’s action has ignited immediate backlash, with local officials anticipating legal challenges.

Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, criticized the move, saying, ‘It’s insane. The Presidio is a thriving and successful space for everyone — not to mention its ecological and environmental importance. Everyone enjoys the Presidio, no matter who you voted for.’

The Presidio, which has historical significance dating back to the Spanish colonial period, was decommissioned as a military post in the late 1980s after a decision by the U.S. Department of Defense. The Presidio Trust was established in 1996 with bipartisan support, largely attributed to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s efforts to preserve the park after previous debates about its future.

In response to the executive order, Pelosi’s office issued a statement emphasizing the statutory protections of the trust. ‘In 1996, the Presidio Trust Act was passed in a bipartisan way when Republicans held the majority in Congress and has retained bipartisan support ever since,’ the statement read. ‘The Presidio Trust is statutory and it has been protected from assaults over time by its statutory strength.’

California State Senator Scott Wiener also condemned the order, stating, ‘The Presidio Trust is a national treasure — a self-sustaining trust that’s created a flourishing and vibrant Presidio. But Trump can’t tolerate success if it’s not about him or enriching him. This action is legally questionable at best. We’re not going to go quietly.’

Under the new order, heads of the targeted agencies are required to submit compliance reports to the Office of Management and Budget within two weeks. There has been no immediate response from Jean Fraser, CEO of the Presidio Trust, or Mark Buell, the Trust’s board chair.

As the situation unfolds, concerns arise not only regarding the Presidio Trust but also for other agencies targeted by the executive order, signaling a potential shift in how federally managed lands and resources are governed.

This is an evolving story, and further developments are expected in the coming days as local leaders and advocates respond to the implications of the president’s order.