The acting head of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stepped down from his position after a brief tenure of six months, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This move adds to a series of significant staff exits, program reductions, and policy changes at the agency responsible for coordinating federal disaster response efforts.
David Richardson, who largely operated behind the scenes during his time in office, faced criticism for his management of the fatal floods in Texas earlier this year, leading to his resignation. Richardson took over from the previous acting chief, Cameron Hamilton, in May.
While DHS did not provide an official explanation for his departure, a FEMA insider disclosed to The Associated Press that Richardson had resigned. The employee, speaking anonymously due to confidentiality reasons, shared this information with the media.
Acknowledging Richardson’s service, a DHS spokesperson expressed gratitude for his dedication and wished him success in his future endeavors in the private sector. Richardson, a former U.S. marine officer with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan who also headed the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, lacked prior emergency management background when he assumed the role earlier this year.
Upon his appointment, Richardson pledged to support President Donald Trump’s objective of shifting more disaster recovery responsibilities to individual states. He made a strong statement to FEMA staff, emphasizing his commitment to advancing this mission.
However, Richardson’s leadership capabilities were scrutinized by lawmakers and FEMA personnel. Questions arose regarding his delayed on-site response following devastating floods in Texas and the strict oversight imposed by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on FEMA expenditures.
Karen Evans, FEMA’s chief of staff and former cybersecurity expert, is set to take over the role on December 1, as announced by DHS. It is mandated by law that the FEMA administrator possesses emergency management expertise, though temporary leaders have been appointed by the Trump administration thus far, bypassing this requirement.
The agency has experienced significant turmoil since Trump’s re-election, with a substantial number of employees leaving and various policy changes being implemented. The administration has also made cuts to mitigation funding, imposed conditions on preparedness grants related to immigration, and rejected numerous states’ requests for disaster declarations.
A review council, led by Noem and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been established by Trump to propose reforms for FEMA and advocate for greater state-level involvement in disaster response and recovery efforts. This council is expected to deliver its recommendations by December.