The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has resigned following mounting criticism that he was unreachable during the deadly July floods in central Texas. The departure underscores deepening concerns about federal disaster-management readiness and the leadership of the agency.
David Richardson, who had served as FEMA’s acting head since May 2025, stepped down Monday after roughly six months in the role. His exit comes after reports that FEMA personnel were unable to contact him during the early hours of the flooding crisis in Texas — a lapse that critics say contributed to fatal delays.
During a congressional hearing on July 23, the agency’s response to the floods was sharply criticized. Lawmakers accused FEMA of mismanagement, pointing to the prolonged delay in deploying search and rescue teams and unanswered disaster hotlines. Richardson had defended the response as a “model” for disaster response, drawing sharp rebukes.
One of the key internal issues was a new policy requiring all disaster-contracting expenditures over $100,000 to be personally approved by the Kristi Noem-led Department of Homeland Security. That policy reportedly slowed FEMA’s ability to act in the field.
While Richardson had joined FEMA from the agency’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office, he lacked prior experience leading large-scale disaster response operations. Internal sources said he minimized engagement with daily FEMA operations and was rarely present in critical early-response meetings.
With the resignation, FEMA faces fresh scrutiny over its ability to fulfill its mission in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters. Congress is considering bipartisan reform legislation to overhaul the agency’s structure and restore confidence.
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