Major Changes at FEMA Amidst Uncertainty
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is set for its third major shake-up of the year, which is raising eyebrows as it faces scrutiny from the Trump administration.
On Monday, the acting head of FEMA, David Richardson, announced his resignation, following the earlier dismissal of Cameron Hamilton in May. Hamilton was let go after suggesting that FEMA shouldn’t be entirely eliminated.
Repeatedly, the current administration has expressed intentions to either dismantle or radically reform FEMA.
A report from a FEMA review committee is expected soon, which might provide more clarity on the administration’s direction.
“In the past ten months, we’ve seen two different acting administrators for FEMA,” pointed out Michael Cohen, a former chief of staff at the agency during both the Obama and Biden years. “In states that rely on FEMA, there’s still confusion about who is in charge.”
Cohen noted it’s quite unusual not to have an official candidate to lead FEMA at this point in the new administration.
“Typically, we expect a smooth transition after a government change, but it seems like this one will stretch on until at least November,” he commented. “People in these roles often don’t think ahead. Transition periods can stall long-term planning.”
Richardson faced significant criticism for his management during the devastating Texas floods that resulted in over 100 fatalities.
Reports indicated that during this crisis, crucial calls for disaster assistance went unanswered because key contracts hadn’t been renewed, and officials had trouble reaching Richardson.
Richardson defended FEMA’s response, claiming he couldn’t identify any wrongdoing and labeled one report as “fake news,” asserting that most calls were indeed handled.
This transition is layered over the ongoing turmoil regarding FEMA’s future under the Trump administration.
Despite discussions about dismantling the agency, President Trump signed an executive order to form a review council charged with suggesting improvements to FEMA.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, stated that the upcoming report would guide the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape FEMA into a more streamlined disaster response entity.
It’s currently unclear what suggestions may come from this report, though there are talks that FEMA might move its headquarters to Texas.
A spokesperson did not confirm or deny this rumor, stating that the review committee is still at work and will share its final recommendations soon.
Rafael Lemaître, former communications director for FEMA during the Obama administration, remarked that Richardson’s resignation adds to the growing list of issues the agency has faced since January.
“Chaotic leadership changes are challenging enough,” Lemaître noted. “These workers have endured a range of traumatic experiences, from prolonged government shutdowns to fears of job losses. Such a demoralized workforce inevitably impacts their readiness and ability to perform effectively.”
Now, it falls to Richardson’s successor, Karen Evans, to steer the agency through these turbulent waters. Evans currently serves as FEMA’s chief of staff, and her background includes roles at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and as DHS Chief Information Officer during the previous Trump administration.
A group of former and current FEMA employees has already expressed their discontent regarding the administration’s leadership, accusing it of undermining FEMA’s disaster response capabilities.
Concerns were specifically raised about a policy that requires the personal approval of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for any spending over $100,000.
“The effects of such manual reviews became painfully evident during the July 2025 floods in Kerrville, Texas, where crucial mission assignments faced delays of up to 72 hours,” the anonymous staffers stated, adding that FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue chief resigned in light of these delays.
