Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director David Richardson has come under fire after reportedly stating during an all-hands meeting that he was unaware hurricane season had started.
Sources familiar with the meeting revealed that Richardson’s comments were made following the official start of hurricane season on June 1, which runs through November 30.
It remains unclear whether Richardson was joking, but a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contended that his remarks were light-hearted.
When pressed by journalists during a White House press briefing about President Donald Trump’s confidence in Richardson’s leadership, press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the significance of the comments.
Leavitt emphasized that FEMA is taking the upcoming hurricane season seriously, dismissing concerns stemming from the reported remarks and asserting they were mischaracterized.
Richardson’s comments came amid an internal review indicating that FEMA may not be adequately prepared for the 2025 hurricane season.
In response, the DHS spokesperson refuted claims of unpreparedness, stating, “Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season.”
The spokesperson further stressed that FEMA is focused on disaster response and safeguarding the American populace.
Political leaders reacted strongly to Richardson’s remarks, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioning the lack of action taken against Richardson.
He expressed his confusion on social media, stating, “I am unaware of why he hasn’t been fired yet.”
Adding to the criticism, Senator Ed Markey characterized Richardson’s leadership as ineffective, warning, “People will die.”
The all-hands meeting on Monday occurred after Richardson had pledged to update staff on strategies for addressing the ongoing hurricane season.
In the DHS’s view, the agency is transitioning from a cumbersome, centralized approach to a more agile disaster response model that empowers state governments to assist their citizens.
However, reports suggest that Richardson plans to adhere to pre-existing framework established during the Biden administration, likely to avoid disrupting FEMA’s Review Council, which was initiated under the Trump administration.
Dan Stoneking, a former FEMA official, critiqued the agency’s strategy, stating it appears the current administration relies heavily on the previous plan instead of developing its own.
He pointed out the original strategies were formulated with greater funding and prior to significant personnel loss at FEMA since the Trump administration took charge.
This reality, according to Stoneking, necessitates modifications in planning to ensure effective disaster response and preparedness.
“This is not laser-focused. This is not empowering,” he argued, asserting it amounts to a management approach that may further the inefficiencies already present in federal disaster response efforts.
Leavitt, on behalf of the administration, refuted claims of inadequate disaster preparedness, asserting that President Trump will carefully consider any requests for federal assistance that reach his desk.
image source from：https://6abc.com/post/white-house-addresses-fema-acting-directors-jokes-hurricane-season/16645973/
