President Donald Trump has launched a targeted effort to challenge a significant legacy of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by issuing an order to reduce funding for the Presidio Trust, an agency that oversees a 1,500-acre national park on the site of a former Army base overlooking the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
Pelosi, responding to Trump’s move at an event in San Francisco, defended the trust, arguing that it is safeguarded by a federal law passed by Congress. She accused the president of using distractions to divert attention from the ongoing debates about proposed cuts to critical social programs. “We are here to focus on Medicaid, Mr. President,” Pelosi declared as she slammed a paper onto the table, dismissing Trump’s actions as unnecessary. “We will not be swayed by diversions. He called himself a king the other day. King of what? The emperor has no clothes.”
While the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, many view Trump’s push to cut the Presidio Trust’s funding as political retribution against Pelosi, one of his most vocal adversaries. Pelosi was instrumental in establishing the trust in the 1990s, securing bipartisan support for a federal agency tasked with managing the Presidio, a picturesque area now home to historic buildings, meadows, and stunning views.
Trump’s executive order targets several independent agencies, including the Presidio Trust, calling for the elimination of certain functions deemed unnecessary. However, the trust is largely self-funded and was created by Congress, meaning Trump’s order is unlikely to have a significant impact on its operations. The trust does not rely on federal funding, though it is required to submit a detailed financial report to Trump’s Office of Management and Budget.
Despite the executive order, Pelosi emphasized that the Presidio Trust was a bipartisan achievement that was firmly established in law. As a result, she argued, it would be protected from political attacks. Her ally, Marie Hurabiell, a former member of the Presidio Trust, echoed her sentiment, clarifying that the trust could not be eliminated through a presidential decree. “It’s not going away,” Hurabiell said. “It cannot be eliminated by one person.”
Local leaders, including San Francisco city officials, have expressed concern that Trump’s move goes beyond targeting Pelosi and the trust, viewing it as an attack on the residents of San Francisco. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, whose district includes the Presidio, warned that Trump’s actions could have far-reaching implications for the city.
What sets the Presidio Trust apart from other national park agencies is its financial independence. The trust generates revenue through leasing and renovating former Army structures, now home to museums, offices, event venues, and other businesses. It is projected to have a surplus of $46 million for the current fiscal year, and since 2013, it has not required annual appropriations from Congress.
In 2022, Pelosi helped secure $200 million from the Biden administration for the trust’s infrastructure and climate resilience efforts, a portion of which some Republicans are seeking to claw back. Despite this, the trust maintains that most of the allocated funds have already been assigned to various projects.
Veteran political figures like former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown predict that Trump will continue to attack the trust regardless of its legal protections. “He’s not concerned with the consequences,” Brown said. “What matters most to him is the media attention.”