David Richardson, who had headed up the Federal Emergency Management Agency as acting chief for almost seven months, reportedly resigned Monday, Nov. 17. The Washington Post, CBS and other outlets reported the resignation.
The agency has repeatedly drawn concern from members of Congress and others this year about its ability to respond to disasters after more than a third of its staff was decimated by the Trump administration and its efforts to slash bureaucracy and budgets. The agency had been under fire from President Donald Trump even before the election last fall.
Richardson was the second person this year to step into the post. The first, acting chief Cameron Hamilton was ousted by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after saying in a congressional hearing that he did not support the administration’s proposal to eliminate the agency.
Controversy began swirling around Richardson almost as soon as he took office. In his first staff meeting, he told staff he will “run right over” anyone that resists changes and that all delegation of authority in the agency is immediately suspended, Reuters reported.
In one staff meeting, he joked that he didn’t know hurricane season had started, which didn’t go over well with employees in the meeting.
