What Trump’s Order to “Dramatically Reduce” Presidio Trust Means for the Beloved Park

President Trump shocked San Francisco Wednesday night with an executive order to “dramatically reduce” the Presidio Trust, which Congress formed in 1996 to manage and protect the historic 1,500-acre park that looks out on the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. The trust is one of four agencies named in the executive order, which calls for shrinking those the president deems “unnecessary.” We talk about what’s behind the order and what it might mean for the future of the beloved, and much visited, Presidio.

Show Highlights

The Presidio Trust’s History

The idea to transform the Presidio from a military base into an urban national park dates back to the Nixon era. Former Senator Barbara Boxer remembers that in the 1970s and 1980s, California Representative Phil Burton insisted that if the Presidio ever closed as a military base, “it must become a park.” Nixon supported the vision, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become one of the country’s most beloved and heavily visited public spaces.

After years of bipartisan effort, the Presidio Trust Act was passed in 1996, establishing an agency to manage and preserve the park. Boxer, who carried the bill in the Senate, speaks on its significance: “We understood the jewel that this is. We understood its commercial value, and we knew there might be people who would want to turn it into a private investment instead of a public one.”

How Governance Ensures Protection and Sustainability

The Presidio Trust Act was deliberately designed to shield the park from exploitation or development. “The statute is very specific—they would have to overturn the law,” says Boxer, expressing confidence in its legal safeguards.

Chris Lehnertz, CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, explains that the president appoints six board members, who serve at their discretion, while the Secretary of the Interior appoints and oversees the seventh.

So, although the current administration can appoint new board members, the law limits their authority.

Financial Self-Sufficiency and Public-Private Partnership

A key aspect of the Presidio Trust’s success is its financial self-sufficiency, made possible through a unique public-private partnership. Since 2013, the Trust has operated without federal funding, generating revenue from commercial and residential leases within the park.

Gabe Greschler, a politics reporter for The San Francisco Standard, says that the trust generates between $150 million and just under $200 million annually from leases. This financial independence enables the trust to prioritize the park’s best interests without external pressures.

Chris Lehnertz thinks public-private partnerships play an important role in preserving national parks. She calls the Presidio Trust Act one of the most innovative models — all revenue generated from leases, lodging, and commercial vendors is reinvested directly into the park.

Addressing Development Concerns

Despite the legal protections, concerns about potential development or privatization within the Presidio remain. One listener expresses worry, asking, “Could this be the first step toward building high-rises in the Presidio? I can see how a real estate developer might see this as a billion-dollar opportunity.”

Greschler notes that “tech libertarians” have proposed turning the Presidio into an “innovation hub” or “freedom city,” but he questions the legality of such ideas. Boxer firmly rejects these proposals. She argues: “Are we going to build condos in Yosemite? The Presidio is either a park or it’s not, and it’s protected against this kind of land grab.”

This Park Means So Much to So Many

Boxer says, “Public opinion means everything.” And throughout the conversation, public support for preserving the Presidio as a national park emerges as a powerful force.

Listeners share their love for and personal connections to the park. Jane describes visiting the Presidio as “like medicine,” while Mark praises the Trust’s management, saying, “The quality of life here has improved every year. I attribute that to excellent management and the fact that it’s self-supporting.”

Boxer stresses the importance of preserving the Presidio’s history and beauty, saying, “If this is going to be a fight, it’s going to be a fight. But I think it’s a useless waste of our time. This thing is working for everybody.”

This content was edited by the Forum production team but was generated with the help of AI.