USDA focuses on wildfire prevention with new natural resources appointmentsUSDA focuses on wildfire prevention with new natural resources appointments

With Trump’s visit to California wildfire damage, new NRE appointments reflect a renewed focus on protecting forests and communities nationwide.

USDA

January 24, 2025

2 Min Read
raging wildfire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced key appointments by President Donald J. Trump to support his administration’s focus on forest management, wildfire prevention and natural resource conservation. Ahead of the President's visit to California to assess wildfire damage, these appointments highlight a renewed dedication to protecting communities, enhancing forest health and ensuring responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Kristin Sleeper will serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). Sleeper previously held roles as professional staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, where she contributed to key natural resource and environmental policy initiatives.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Michigan State University, a master of environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a master of public administration from the University of Montana.

Tom Schultz will serve as Chief of Staff for NRE. He previously served as vice president of resources and government affairs at Idaho Forest Group, where he led timber procurement operations and managed relationships with government officials at all levels. A former U.S. Air Force Officer, Schultz also served as director of the Idaho Department of Lands, overseeing the management of 2.4 million surface acres of endowment lands and 3.3 million acres of endowment minerals. He held leadership roles in Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, managing the Trust Lands and Water Resources Divisions.

Related:Senate confirms Brooke Rollins to lead USDA

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in political science from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Montana.

USDA’s NRE mission area oversees the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, ensuring the sustainable management of the nation’s forests, grasslands and watersheds. NRE supports proactive forest management to reduce wildfire risks, conserve ecosystems and maintain the health and productivity of 193 million acres of public lands.

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