California Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Julie Henderson plans to step down on Jan. 20, the day President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.
“Thank you all for your unwavering commitment to our mission and for all you’ve contributed to what we’ve achieved together,” Henderson wrote in an email to employees that DPR shared with Agri-Pulse. “It’s been an honor and privilege to work with you and I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the years to come.”
She noted departmental milestones during her tenure, such as stricter regulations on 1,3-dichloropropene and neonicotinoids and strengthening collaboration with county agricultural commissioners for statewide enforcement.
Henderson, who began as acting director of DPR in July 2021, took on the role officially that December. She was the fourth director since 2019 to be appointed to the position and previously served as deputy secretary for health and public policy at the California Environmental Protection Agency under Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Renee Pinel, Western Plant Health Association president and CEO, wrote to Agri-Pulse that she's "appreciated the open and frank dialogue that the Director has afforded" with WPHA and other agricultural interests while acknowledging that they've had some policy disagreements.
"We look forward to DPR maintaining its commitment to shorten registration timelines and support new products and technologies, so farmers and local communities are not left unable to deal with the threats from new pests and diseases, which is key to the success of SPM," Pinel wrote.
DPR was in the hotseat with ag groups this year over proposed increases of the mill assessment, the pesticide sales tax that funds 80% of the department’s operations. Former state Senator Brian Dahle, R-Bieber, said at the time Henderson needs to “guarantee that in some timeframe [DPR is] going to actually get these new pesticides,” echoing industry frustration that the pesticide registration process must happen faster.
The state auditor issued a report on the department’s inefficiencies shortly after the Legislature approved mill tax increase, though the office acknowledged the department has taken steps to improve. The launch of DPR’s digital registration system, CalPEST, was repeatedly delayed for years despite being set to roll out in 2017.
Over the last few years, DPR has reshaped agriculture's approach to integrated pest management by launching the Sustainable Pesticide Management (SPM) roadmap, which created confusion among agriculture commissioners due to the lack of regulatory guidance. Last year DPR issued a policy framework for eliminating harmful pesticides by 2050, but has yet to announce which chemicals will fall on that list.
Farm groups have also criticized DPR for prioritizing environmental justice interests in SPM over agriculture and mismanaging state funds to implement the roadmap, rather than preventing invasive species.
In October, DPR sponsored a “Toxic Tour” of farms near Santa Maria alongside a farmworker advocacy group, leaving a sour taste with growers and farm advocacy groups, who saw the event as partial to environmental interests.
