David Richardson resigned Monday as acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after months of public criticism and internal unrest, according to reports from The Washington Post and CNN. He submitted his two-week notice to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, after internal plans were already in motion to remove him, CNN reported.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed the resignation to Newsweek, thanked Richardson for his “dedicated service,” and said he will return to the private sector.
Why Richardson’s Exit Matters
Richardson’s departure comes as FEMA is under intense pressure amid the Trump administration’s push to reshape the agency.
State emergency management officials are grappling with unprecedented challenges as federal disaster preparedness grants face steep cuts, delays linked to litigation, and new population-reporting rules that have stalled critical aid. Last month, Senior District Judge William E. Smith sharply criticized the administration, accusing it of defying his prior order and imposing “unlawful” conditions on FEMA grants. When Trump took office in January, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signaled that FEMA funding would be closely scrutinized, especially spending in Democrat-led cities and states.
Inside Richardson’s Tenure
Richardson, who led the nation’s disaster-response agency for roughly six months, was frequently difficult to reach, including during the early hours of the catastrophic Texas flooding over the Fourth of July weekend, the Post reported. Current FEMA staffers said he had withdrawn from day-to-day operations in recent months and had privately signaled he did not expect to remain in the role past Thanksgiving, according to the Post.
DHS, however, framed his time in office far more positively, crediting Richardson with securing historic levels of funding for North Carolina, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, and Alaska, and overseeing a broad review that identified government waste and inefficiency.
A former Marine Corps artillery officer, Richardson replaced Cameron Hamilton in May after Noem removed Hamilton for publicly contradicting the administration’s stated goal of ultimately eliminating FEMA. Richardson had no background in disaster management, and his tenure quickly drew scrutiny. In one June meeting, he reportedly told staff he did not know the U.S. had a hurricane season — a remark DHS later described as a joke.
Richardson’s leadership came under its greatest strain in July, when devastating floods in Texas killed more than 130 people. While the disaster unfolded, Richardson was on vacation and unreachable for hours, later appearing more than a week afterward for an unannounced visit to the state — days after Trump and Noem had already toured the area.
According to a FEMA official who heard the exchange firsthand, Richardson once asked staff whether disaster assistance could be directed to Republican areas but not Democratic ones.
How Officials Are Reacting
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek on Monday: “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extend their sincere appreciation to the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, David Richardson, for his dedicated service and wish him continued success in his return to the private sector. Mr. Richardson led FEMA through the 2025 hurricane season, delivering historic funding to North Carolina, Texas, Florida, New Mexico and Alaska, and overseeing a comprehensive review that identified and eliminated serious governmental waste and inefficiency, while refocusing the agency to deliver swift resources to Americans in crisis.
“We anticipate the forthcoming release of the FEMA Review Council’s final report, which will inform this Administration’s ongoing efforts to fundamentally restructure FEMA, transforming it from its current form into a streamlined, mission-focused disaster-response force. Starting December 1, FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will step into this important role.”
Cameron Hamilton, Richardson’s predecessor, told CNN: “He never should have been there to begin with. The two words I’d use to describe him are unprofessional and overwhelmed.”
An administration official told CNN: “Have you heard him speak? He does more damage than good.”
A former high-ranking FEMA official added to CNN: “FEMA likely would have failed had there been a major disaster. Having no big disasters has absolutely played into the Trump narrative that there is no need for FEMA.”
What’s Next for FEMA
FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will become acting administrator on December 1.
According to CNN, dozens of lawmakers have backed a bipartisan proposal known as the “FEMA Act,” which would remove FEMA from DHS and re-establish it as an independent agency — a move Noem opposes.
