David Richardson, the outgoing acting administrator of FEMA, led the agency through the 2025 hurricane season and a major overhaul aimed at cutting waste and speeding disaster relief. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The announcement of Richardson’s departure comes as the Trump administration continues its broader effort to reshape FEMA’s mission and leadership — a push that gained national attention in late August when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agency’s sweeping reforms and took aim at internal critics who accused the administration of dismantling FEMA’s core programs.
At the time, more than 190 former and current FEMA employees signed an open letter condemning the administration’s cuts and restructuring, prompting Noem to place several active staff members on administrative leave.
DHS JUGGLES ‘MASS DEPORTATION’ PUSH WITH HELENE RELIEF, ADDS $124M AFTER BIDEN BACKLASH
Rain falls over a makeshift memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)
Noem argued that the administration’s goal is to replace FEMA’s legacy bureaucracy with a more agile, deployable disaster-response force, pointing to recent successes in Texas as evidence of the new model’s effectiveness.
She also accused the Biden administration of diverting funds and focus away from disaster relief, claiming it prioritized unrelated spending while leaving major recovery efforts unfinished.
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Even some Democrats have acknowledged progress under the Trump administration’s FEMA, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who said earlier this year that the agency’s performance on the ground was "a credit to [Trump’s] administration."
Fox News Digital’s Preston Mizell contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/acting-fema-chief-david-richardson-steps-down-trump-admin-continues-reshaping-agency-operations