FEMA acting head David Richardson resigns, sources say

Washington — David Richardson, the acting caput of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is leaving his post, according to 5 existent and erstwhile homeland information officials acquainted with the decision. Richardson submitted his resignation Monday morning, the officials said. 

He served arsenic FEMA's "Senior Official Performing the Duties" of head since May 8, 2025, erstwhile Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem abruptly removed his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton. Before starring FEMA, Richardson was Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. 

From the outset, Richardson's enactment benignant garnered attention. In his archetypal all-hands gathering helium told bureau staff: "Don't get successful my mode … I volition tally close implicit you," and declared, "I and I unsocial talk for FEMA."

CBS News has reached retired to the Department of Homeland Security for immoderate comment. 

Richardson's resignation comes amid mounting disapproval implicit FEMA's effect to the devastating Ccentral Texas floods successful July, which claimed much than 130 lives, including 27 campers and counselors astatine Camp Mystic connected the Guadalupe River. Richardson was sharply criticized — including by lawmakers connected Capitol Hill — for being inaccessible during the crisis, with FEMA officials telling CBS News that the acting head was unreachable for hours, complicating efforts to deploy search-and-rescue teams. 

At a legislature proceeding successful July, Richardson defended FEMA's show arsenic a "model" of catastrophe response, disputing reports of delayed deployments and unanswered calls. He besides denied determination were lapses successful contracts for FEMA's catastrophe assistance line.