Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) head David Richardson is departing the agency, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed Monday.
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extend their sincere appreciation to the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, David Richardson, for his dedicated service and wish him continued success in his return to the private sector,” the spokesperson said in a statement shared with The Hill.
The spokesperson also said that FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will take over the role started Dec. 1.
The agency did not say why Richardson is leaving. During his tenure, he faced scrutiny over his handling of Texas floods and Trump administration proposals to reform or even eliminate FEMA.
The departure was first reported by The Washington Post.
Richardson assumed the role earlier this year after the departure of then-head Cameron Hamilton, who was ousted after saying he did not think it would be a good idea to eliminate the agency.
When Richardson took over, he told staffers he would “run right over” anyone who resisted his actions, Reuters reported.
During his time at FEMA, he was also serving as assistant Homeland Security secretary for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.
He oversaw the agency’s response to deadly flooding in Texas that killed at least 135 and later defended that response amid scrutiny.
The Post reported at the time that high-level officials could not reach Richardson, whose approval was needed to send in key resources, during the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is still eyeing changes to the agency and is soon expected to release a report put together by a review council set up by the White House.
The DHS spokesperson said that the report “will inform this Administration’s ongoing efforts to fundamentally restructure FEMA, transforming it from its current form into a streamlined, mission-focused disaster-response force.”
—Updated at 3:24 p.m. EDT
