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Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025
Outside the box.
Acting FEMA Director Resigns Amid Leadership Turnover at Trump Administration
David Richardson steps down after six months, prompting calls for stability in the Federal Emergency Management Agency
David Richardson, the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced his resignation on Monday after six months in the role.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Richardson, who had been appointed in mid-2025, will be replaced by FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans who will assume duties on December 1.
During his tenure, Richardson oversaw key relief allocations for states affected by this year’s hurricane season and led an internal review of agency operations.
His departure follows criticism over FEMA’s response to the Texas floods earlier in the year and comes at a moment when the Trump administration is pursuing a broader reform agenda for the agency.
House leaders swiftly weighed in: Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, described the resignation as “another example of the chaos that defines the Trump administration,” and urged the president to appoint a permanent leader with a long-term commitment to FEMA’s mission.
With the departure of Richardson, FEMA is entering its fourth director change in less than a year.
Observers say the sequence of transitional appointments raises concerns about continuity, particularly as the U.S. braces for further disaster-response demands.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Richardson, who had been appointed in mid-2025, will be replaced by FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans who will assume duties on December 1.
During his tenure, Richardson oversaw key relief allocations for states affected by this year’s hurricane season and led an internal review of agency operations.
His departure follows criticism over FEMA’s response to the Texas floods earlier in the year and comes at a moment when the Trump administration is pursuing a broader reform agenda for the agency.
House leaders swiftly weighed in: Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, described the resignation as “another example of the chaos that defines the Trump administration,” and urged the president to appoint a permanent leader with a long-term commitment to FEMA’s mission.
With the departure of Richardson, FEMA is entering its fourth director change in less than a year.
Observers say the sequence of transitional appointments raises concerns about continuity, particularly as the U.S. braces for further disaster-response demands.
