— David Richardson resigned as acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, leaving the agency’s future unclear as the administration prepares a broad review of FEMA’s role. The Department of Homeland Security said Karen Evans, a senior political appointee, will serve as acting administrator beginning Dec. 1. Both Richardson and Evans lack formal emergency-management credentials required by statute to lead FEMA, a fact that has alarmed some career staff. The change comes as the White House readies a report that could fundamentally reshape federal disaster response.
Key Takeaways
- David Richardson stepped down on Nov. 17, 2025, after roughly six months as acting FEMA administrator.
- Karen Evans is slated to become acting administrator on Dec. 1, 2025; she has a background in information technology and prior political appointments but no formal emergency-management credentials.
- The Homeland Security Department said Richardson will return to the private sector and praised his work ‘‘refocusing the agency to deliver swift resources to Americans in crisis.’’
- More than 2,000 employees have left FEMA since President Trump took office, about one-third of the agency’s permanent workforce.
- The administration has signaled plans to overhaul or possibly eliminate FEMA; a FEMA Review Council report is expected by the end of 2025 and will guide any restructuring.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly requires personal sign-off on expenditures over $100,000, a policy that has tightened FEMA spending controls.
- Recent disasters—deadly Texas floods in July and typhoon damage in Alaska—have tested federal response even as agency capacity and funding have been constrained.
Background
The resignation occurs amid an ongoing push from the administration to rethink the federal role in disasters. President Trump publicly suggested in June 2025 that FEMA could be eliminated or its responsibilities shifted to the states after hurricane season, and officials thereafter launched a formal review of the agency’s mission and programs. That review, carried out by a FEMA Review Council of local, state and federal emergency managers, was ordered by executive directive and is due by the end of 2025.
FEMA has lost experienced staff since the start of the administration: more than 2,000 employees have departed, including senior leaders who managed major recovery efforts. At the same time, the administration has pursued tighter spending controls and proposed reforms that could raise the threshold for federal disaster declarations and change how aid is disbursed to states. These shifts have heightened concern among state and local emergency managers who rely on predictable federal assistance during large-scale catastrophes.
Main Event
Richardson, a Marine veteran who had been serving concurrently as assistant secretary at the Homeland Security Department’s office for countering weapons of mass destruction, was named acting FEMA administrator in May 2025. He replaced Cameron Hamilton, who left soon after telling Congress FEMA was indispensable to communities in crisis. Richardson’s appointment was met with skepticism inside the agency, where some staff questioned his familiarity with core emergency-management practices.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Richardson’s departure on Nov. 17 and said he was returning to the private sector. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, credited him with refocusing operations and diverting resources more quickly to Americans in need. The announcement also named Karen Evans as the next acting administrator effective Dec. 1; Evans previously worked in the first Trump administration and held technology and cybersecurity roles in government and the private sector.
Several current and former FEMA staff described tensions after Richardson’s arrival, pointing to remarks that unnerved some employees and a management style that some said was confrontational. One anecdote that circulated inside FEMA — later characterized by agency officials as a joke — involved Richardson quipping that he did not know the United States had a hurricane season. On his first full day as acting administrator, he told staff that anyone who obstructed his agenda would be run over, language that raised concerns about workplace culture.
Analysis & Implications
The leadership change amplifies uncertainty about FEMA’s capacity to respond to major disasters while the agency is undergoing structural review. If the pending FEMA Review Council recommends higher thresholds for federal intervention or a reduced federal role in long-term recovery, states and localities could face larger financial and logistical burdens after large-scale events. That prospect is especially significant for jurisdictions with limited emergency-management budgets.
Operationally, continued turnover at FEMA erodes institutional knowledge. The departure of roughly one-third of permanent staff since the administration took office reduces the pool of experienced incident managers, grant specialists and recovery planners. During complex, overlapping disasters—like the July Texas floods and coastal damage from a typhoon in Alaska—this loss of expertise could slow federal assistance and complicate coordination with state and local partners.
Budget and program cuts already appear to be affecting some grant pathways. Reports that senior political appointees have blocked or rerouted spending requests, and requirements for high-level sign-off on expenditures above $100,000, suggest the agency is operating with tighter fiscal constraints. That environment may force FEMA to triage aid, prioritize immediate lifesaving missions over longer-term recovery, and defer certain assistance until new policies are clear.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Richardson’s tenure as acting administrator | ~6 months (May–Nov 2025) |
| Staff departures since start of administration | >2,000 (≈1/3 of permanent workforce) |
| Karen Evans start date as acting head | Dec. 1, 2025 |
The table summarizes the principal numerical facts shaping the personnel story. Those metrics—tenure length, staff attrition and the Dec. 1 transition date—help set expectations for how quickly FEMA can stabilize before the administration’s planned structural changes take effect.
Reactions & Quotes
“He is returning to the private sector; we thank him for refocusing the agency to deliver swift resources to Americans in crisis.”
Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security (spokesperson)
McLaughlin’s statement framed the departure as a routine leadership change and emphasized speed of response, a central metric the administration has highlighted in justifying reforms.
“Good riddance.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D–NJ)
Representative Pallone criticized Richardson’s competence and reiterated calls for a FEMA leader with formal emergency-management experience.
“We’re all anxiously waiting to see what it says.”
Bryan Fisher, Director, Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
State and local emergency managers are watching the forthcoming FEMA Review Council report closely, hoping to learn how federal support and thresholds for aid might change.
Unconfirmed
- The precise internal reasons for Richardson’s resignation beyond the department’s statement that he is returning to the private sector have not been independently verified.
- Details about the extent and mechanics of Karen Evans’s role in curbing FEMA spending rely in part on anonymous sources and have not been formally documented in public records.
- The final content and policy recommendations of the FEMA Review Council report remain unavailable until the council releases its findings; speculation about sweeping structural changes thus remains provisional.
Bottom Line
Richardson’s departure and Evans’s impending appointment leave FEMA in a transitional state at a critical moment. With significant staff turnover and a pending review that could change the agency’s responsibilities, state and local emergency managers face heightened uncertainty about the scope and timing of federal assistance.
The immediate watch items are the Dec. 1 leadership handover and the FEMA Review Council report due by the end of 2025. Those milestones will clarify whether the administration pursues incremental reforms or a deeper reconfiguration of federal disaster response—decisions that will shape how communities nationwide prepare for and recover from future disasters.
Sources
- The New York Times (news report)
- The Washington Post (news report referenced)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (federal agency)