FEMA Head Criticized Amid Agency Restructuring

David Richardson, recently appointed by President Trump as acting head of FEMA, has come under fire after telling staff he was unaware the U.S. has a hurricane season—a remark defended as a joke but widely seen as indicative of his lack of disaster management experience. Richardson replaced Cameron Hamilton, who was fired following his opposition to the Trump administration’s move to dismantle FEMA and transfer disaster response duties to states. Since taking office, Richardson has adopted a confrontational leadership style, pledged to enforce Trump’s agenda, and chosen not to implement a new disaster response plan for the current hurricane season. These actions, along with significant layoffs and internal turmoil, have heightened bipartisan concerns about FEMA’s capacity to manage disasters, especially as NOAA predicts up to 10 hurricanes this season. Staff morale remains low and uncertainty is pervasive among FEMA employees. Senior Democrats have publicly called for Richardson’s removal, emphasizing the need for experienced leadership in federal emergency management.