On January 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced two key appointments by President Trump to support his administration’s focus on forest management, wildfire prevention, and natural resource conservation: Kristin Sleeper as Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Tom Schultz as Chief of Staff for Natural Resources and Environment.
Sleeper previously held roles as Professional Staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, where she contributed to key natural resource and environmental policy initiatives.
Schultz 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 United States 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.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Staci Heaton.