Acting Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) David Richardson testifies earlier the House Committee connected Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee connected Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management successful the Rayburn House Office Building connected July 23, 2025 successful Washington, DC.
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David Richardson, the acting caput of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is stepping down, according to a elder Trump medication official, ending a troubled tenure conscionable six months into the occupation and portion the Atlantic hurricane season is underway.
Richardson, a erstwhile Marine Corps officer, is the 2nd FEMA caput to permission oregon beryllium fired since May. He departs amid disapproval that helium kept a debased illustration during deadly Texas floods successful July that killed 130 radical and baffled unit successful June erstwhile helium said helium was unaware the state had a hurricane season.
The Trump medication authoritative acquainted with Richardson's departure, which was archetypal reported by the Washington Post, gave nary reasons for the FEMA main stepping down.
It was not instantly wide who Richardson's successor volition be.
Richardson's predecessor was fired successful May, aft pushing backmost against Trump medication efforts to dismantle the agency. President Donald Trump has said helium wants to greatly trim the size of FEMA - the national bureau liable for preparing for and responding to earthy disasters - saying authorities governments tin grip galore of its functions.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.
FEMA plays a cardinal relation successful the U.S. effect to large disasters, including hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane play is owed to extremity this month.
Richardson kept a debased nationalist illustration compared with FEMA leaders nether erstwhile presidents, appearing seldom successful public. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has served arsenic the look of the administration's effect to earthy disasters during Trump's 2nd term.
Richardson's abrupt departure is an ignominious extremity for an authoritative who told unit erstwhile helium archetypal arrived successful May that helium would "run close over" anyone who resists changes and that each decisions indispensable present spell done him.
"I, and I unsocial successful FEMA, talk for FEMA," helium said astatine the time.
FEMA has mislaid astir 2,500 employees since January done buyouts, firings and different incentives for unit to quit, reducing its wide size to astir 23,350, according to a September Government Accountability Office report.
The cuts are portion of Trump's broader propulsion to chopped the outgo and size of the national civilian workforce.
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