David Richardson, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told staff on Monday that he did not know the U.S. had a hurricane season.
Four sources familiar with the meeting confirmed this to Reuters, which reported that the comment caused confusion within the agency because staff members were unsure if Richardson was joking.
Highlights
- FEMA acting head David Richardson said he does not know about the U.S. hurricane season.
- FEMA later said his comment was a joke, but it has caused confusion within the agency.
- Since early 2025, a third of FEMA workers have left voluntarily or been fired amid Trump's plan to overhaul the agency.
- No new disaster response plan was issued despite promises; staff must use last year's plans for this year's hurricane season.
FEMA’s acting head David Richardson said he didn’t know the U.S. had a hurricane season
Image credits: US Department of Homeland Security
The U.S. hurricane season officially started on Sunday, June 1, and will last through November.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted up to 10 hurricanes this year.
These storms kill dozens and cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage every year.
According to a Nature study, one storm kills 24 people on average, and indirectly causes 7,000 to 11,000 excess deaths in the U.S.
Image credits: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, said Richardson was joking.
The spokesperson added that FEMA is prepared for the hurricane system.
Under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Richardson, “FEMA is shifting from bloated, D.C.-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens,” the spokesperson said.
Richardson, who has no experience in disaster response, became FEMA’s head in May.
He was previously the assistant secretary at the DHS’ office for countering weapons of mass destruction.
Richardson was appointed as the new chief of FEMA last month after his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was fired abruptly.
Image credits: FEMA/X
Hamilton had disagreed with U.S. President Donald Trump about FEMA’s role, and supported the agency’s workforce and contribution to disaster management. He had also contradicted comments about eliminating FEMA.
Since early 2025, a third of FEMA's workers have been fired or left voluntarily. This is part of Trump’s plans to shrink or even eliminate FEMA.
Image credits: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Training programs, including hurricane workshops for state and local officials, have been reduced due to budget and travel restrictions.
During Monday’s all-staff briefing, Richardson said there would be no new disaster response plan, despite having promised to release a new plan in May.
Sources said he told the agency he does not want to act before the FEMA Review Council provides guidance.
Trump announced a FEMA review and said he planned to sign an executive order to either overhaul or shut down the agency.
He suggested the federal government send disaster aid directly to impacted states rather than through FEMA.
Trump wants to overhaul or even shut down FEMA
Image credits: Amy Beth Bennett/Getty Images
“When there is a problem with a state, I think that that problem should be taken care of by the state,” he said.
This FEMA Review Council is co-chaired by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Deanne Criswell, who led FEMA under former President Joe Biden, said Richardson faced a tough challenge in learning about the agency’s operations given his quick appointment.
“He’s probably got less emergency management experience than Hamilton did,” Criswell said. “It just really puts them in an even more vulnerable and weaker spot come June 1.”
Democrats criticized Richardson’s hurricane comment. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted a news headline on X and wrote that he was “unaware of why he (Richardson) hasn’t been fired yet.”
This is not the first time FEMA has come under scrutiny. In the wake of Hurricane Milton in 2024, under the Biden administration, less than 10% of frontline staff were available for deployment amid preparations for the hurricane.
At the time, FEMA was dealing with a funding shortfall and Biden had requested $100 billion in emergency disaster aid.
Image credits: The White House/ Flickr
The response to the earlier Hurricane Helene, which killed 227 people, was widely criticized by relief workers, who reported there was no federal support from FEMA or the military more than a week after the hurricane.
Now, under new leadership, FEMA’s internal challenges continue. A FEMA employee told Reuters that the lack of a disaster plan and clear strategic guidance has created confusion for FEMA staff.
As hurricane season begins, staff are expected to follow last year’s plans.