The acting chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), David Richardson, is stepping down from his role following growing internal dissatisfaction and external criticism of his leadership during natural disasters.
Mounting Pressure and Resignation
David Richardson submitted his resignation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday, as initially reported by major news networks. He had been appointed as the acting administrator in May after his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was fired by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for opposing Trump administration efforts to eliminate the agency.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed the resignation, stating the department and FEMA extend their appreciation for Richardson's service and wish him success in his return to the private sector. Karen Evans, FEMA’s chief of staff and an ally of President Donald Trump, is set to assume the role of acting administrator on December 1.
A Trail of Controversy and Failure
Despite DHS praising Richardson for his leadership during this year's natural disasters, this area was, in fact, a significant source of failure and backlash. Richardson, who had no prior experience managing natural disasters, reportedly told FEMA staff on his first day that he would “run right over” anyone who opposed him.
His tenure was marked by startling revelations, including when he shocked staff by admitting he was unaware the United States had a hurricane season. DHS later attempted to dismiss the comment as a joke, a defense that was met with sharp criticism.
Representative Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, responded, “Suffice to say, disaster response is no joke. If you don’t know what or when hurricane season is, you’re not qualified to run FEMA.”
Texas Floods: A Critical Failure
Richardson faced intense scrutiny for his handling of the massive flooding in central Texas in July, which killed more than 130 people, including dozens of children and counselors at Camp Mystic. FEMA, which had undergone layoffs and resource cuts under the Trump administration, was slow to respond and delayed deploying crucial search-and-rescue teams.
During the crisis, the acting chief was largely unreachable, only making an unannounced visit to the flood zone a week later. He later defended his agency's performance to Congress, controversially calling it a “model for how to respond to a disaster.”
According to reports, senior DHS leaders, frustrated with Richardson's communication failures, had already begun limiting his responsibilities and were drafting plans to officially remove him once the hurricane season concluded this month.
Concurrently, the Trump administration has created a FEMA Review Council, led by Secretary Noem, which is expected to recommend major structural changes to transform the agency into a “streamlined, missions-focused disaster-response force.”
