On November 18, 2025, the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States, David Richardson, announced his resignation on Monday, ending his tenure of over six months. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will take over as acting director on December 1.
Richardson took office in May, becoming the second person to hold the position this year. His predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was dismissed by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem immediately after expressing opposition to the Trump administration’s proposal to downsize or dissolve the agency during a congressional hearing.
According to a report from ABC News, Richardson emphasized in an exclusive statement obtained by ABC that he stepped up at a crucial moment. He stated, “When no one else wanted to do the job, I agreed to serve as acting director throughout the hurricane season. The hurricane season ends on December 1. Now that the danger has mostly passed, I can leave and seek other opportunities.”
He also recalled his experience in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 and mentioned that he stepped in when no one else was willing to take on the mission.
A DHS spokesperson expressed gratitude for Richardson’s work, stating that he “led FEMA through the 2025 hurricane season, providing historic funding to North Carolina, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, and Alaska and overseeing a comprehensive review that identified and eliminated significant government waste and inefficiencies.”
However, Richardson faced several controversies during his tenure. The agency drew attention from congressional members and others this year mainly due to the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government, resulting in over a third of the agency’s staff being cut. Concerns were raised about its ability to respond to disasters.
Following severe flooding in Texas in July, Richardson’s response to the situation was criticized by Democratic lawmakers during a hearing before the House Transportation Committee.
Richardson, who was on vacation with his two sons at the time, testified that he immediately coordinated response measures from his truck.
It is expected that Richardson will return to the private sector.
Karen Evans, who will succeed Richardson, is a cybersecurity expert who previously worked for the Department of Homeland Security during the first Trump administration. She served as Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security from January to June and was nominated for Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Management, a nomination that was withdrawn in the summer.