Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff were left confused this week after newly appointed FEMA Administrator David Richardson seemed to be unaware of the annual U.S. Hurricane Season, according to Reuters and multiple sources familiar with the agency.
The remark was made during a staff briefing on Monday, less than a month after Richardson assumed leadership of FEMA. Attendees were unclear whether the comment was intended as a joke or a serious admission. The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on Sunday and runs through November. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently predicted an above-average season, with up to 10 hurricanes expected.
Richardson’s comment, combined with concerns over staffing cuts and reduced hurricane preparation efforts, alarmed emergency management professionals and prompted criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer shared the Reuters headline on X, expressing confusion about why Richardson had not been fired yet. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, also voiced concerns. In response, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that the comment was meant as a joke and emphasized that FEMA is prepared for the storm season. The agency is undergoing a transition “from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force.”
However, some staff members indicated that Richardson’s tone and follow-through on agency plans have added to the uncertainty. During the same Monday briefing, Richardson announced that he would not introduce a new disaster response plan, contradicting a promise he made during a town hall on May 15 to deliver a finalized strategy by May 23.
Richardson, a former Marine artillery officer and assistant secretary at the DHS office for countering weapons of mass destruction, has no prior experience in managing disaster response. He has informed staff that he will continue overseeing the DHS office while serving as the FEMA administrator.
Sources told Reuters that Richardson cited the FEMA Review Council—created by President Trump to oversee FEMA operations—as a reason for not altering existing plans. The council includes Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, governors, and other officials.
Confusion regarding leadership direction, compounded by high turnover within the agency, has impacted staff morale. Since the start of the Trump administration, about one-third of FEMA’s full-time staff have either left or been dismissed. FEMA has also reduced hurricane training sessions and emergency workshops due to new restrictions on travel and public speaking.
Despite previous statements from Noem suggesting she wanted to eliminate FEMA, she recently approved Richardson’s request to retain more than 2,600 short-term disaster recovery workers whose contracts were set to expire. These employees constitute about 40% of the agency’s total workforce and play a crucial role in on-the-ground relief efforts.
Richardson succeeded Cameron Hamilton, who was abruptly fired after publicly clashing with Trump over FEMA’s future. Sources told Reuters that Trump allies had already been advocating for Hamilton’s removal due to dissatisfaction with his progress on implementing structural reforms. Trump has called for shrinking or dismantling FEMA, arguing that many of its responsibilities should be transferred to state governments.
Richardson was previously appointed as the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD). CWMD leads DHS efforts and coordinates with domestic and international partners to safeguard the United States against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
Mr. Richardson previously served as a United States Marine Corps ground combat officer. In uniform, he commanded artillery units, taught history at the George Washington University, strategy at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, and Marine Corps Martial Arts. During the Long War, he served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. Mr. Richardson was awarded for valor during combat operations.
