David Richardson, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has resigned from his position.
Richardson led the agency for approximately six months.
“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,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told The Hill.
Acting Head of FEMA David Richardson stepping down after short, troubled tenure https://t.co/y0Y1RM1udi pic.twitter.com/iR27b532fq
— New York Post (@nypost) November 17, 2025
The Hill shared:
The spokesperson also said that FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will take over the role started Dec. 1.
The agency did not say why Richardson is leaving. During his tenure, he faced scrutiny over his handling of Texas floods and Trump administration proposals to reform or even eliminate FEMA.
ADVERTISEMENT
Richardson faced criticism for being inaccessible during the floods that ravaged Texas’s Hill Country in July, which killed more than 130 people.
The devastation included the deaths of dozens of girls and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian youth summer camp.
Breaking news: David Richardson resigned as acting head of FEMA.
Richardson was known for frequently being inaccessible, including during the early hours of the flood disaster in Texas over the Fourth of July weekend.https://t.co/UiT3slwgdE
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 17, 2025
ABC News has more:
In a House Transportation Committee hearing following the deadly flooding in Texas in July, Democrats panned Richardson’s and FEMA’s response.
“You’re the leader, but you did not lead, as you are required to by federal law. But worse, you seem uninterested to learn what went wrong and how to respond,” Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said.
Richardson was on vacation with his two sons during the flooding but he testified that he immediately coordinated a response with Texas officials, the White House and others from his truck.
In June, shortly after hurricane season began at the beginning of the month, Richardson told staff in an all-hands that he was unaware it had started, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
It was unclear if Richardson was joking, but a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson argued he was.
