""The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security 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," a DHS spokesperson told The Associated Press."
"Richardson affirmed his commitment to President Donald Trump's goal to push more disaster recovery responsibilities to the states and told FEMA employees he would "run right over" any staff who tried to obstruct that mission."
"When asked by a House committee why he did not arrive on the ground until one week after deadly July floods killed at least 136 people in central Texas, Richardson said he stayed in Washington, D.C. to "kick down the doors of bureaucracy," but also said he was camping with his sons when the floods first hit over July 4 weekend and initially helped manage the response from inside his truck."
David Richardson resigned as acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after six months in the role. The Department of Homeland Security did not provide a reason and issued a statement thanking him and noting his return to the private sector. Richardson is a former Marine who led the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office and had no prior emergency management experience. He replaced Cameron Hamilton, who was fired after opposing FEMA's elimination. Richardson supported shifting disaster recovery responsibilities to states, threatened to "run right over" obstructing staff, faced skepticism from Congress and FEMA employees, and delayed arriving on the ground after deadly Texas floods.
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