Governor Brad Little has appointed Kristin Sleeper as his new Policy Director, effective January 5, 2026. Sleeper is currently the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), serving under Secretary Brooke Rollins.
In a statement, Governor Little said, “The addition of Kristin Sleeper as my Policy Director marks a strong step forward for Idaho. Her depth of experience in natural resources policy combined with her sound political and governing acumen will enhance our work on behalf of Idahoans.”
As Policy Director, Sleeper will join the governor’s executive team and collaborate with state legislators, agency directors, and other stakeholders to advance priorities in natural resources and additional policy areas.
Before joining the USDA in January 2025, Sleeper worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in Washington, D.C., as well as the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. She was also Director for Policy and Research at the National Alliance of Forest Owners. Her experience includes roles focused on forestry and wildfire prevention at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. She was a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Forest Service.
Sleeper holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, a Master of Public Administration from University of Montana, and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology and Zoology from Michigan State University.
She will succeed Jamie Neill, who recently left to join the Idaho Dairymen’s Association.
