David Richardson resigned Monday as acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after facing intense criticism for his handling of the deadly July 2025 Texas floods that killed more than 130 people.
Richardson submitted his resignation letter to the Department of Homeland Security on Monday morning, ending a troubled six-month tenure marked by his absence during Texas’s worst natural disaster in years. He was reportedly on vacation with his sons when the floods struck Central Texas over the July 4th weekend.
The July floods, which struck during the Independence Day holiday weekend, caused $1.1 billion in damage across Central Texas. Richardson did not appear to coordinate operations until days after the disaster began, according to multiple reports.
Richardson’s leadership style also drew internal criticism. In a May staff meeting, he told FEMA employees not to “get in my way,” warning that he would “run right over” anyone who resisted his agenda. He also appeared unfamiliar with basic emergency management protocols, including the duration of hurricane season.
The resignation highlights deeper problems with federal disaster response that have plagued Texas for years. Previous Texian Partisan coverage documented how FEMA funding was diverted from hurricane relief to migrant resettlement, leaving Texas vulnerable during critical disaster seasons.
Texas has consistently demonstrated superior disaster response capabilities compared to federal agencies. During the July floods, Texas state agencies and private sector organizations mobilized quickly while FEMA struggled with basic coordination. The Texas Division of Emergency Management deployed resources within hours of the disaster declaration.
Richardson’s departure comes as the Trump administration considers major changes to FEMA’s structure. FEMA has faced criticism for bureaucratic delays and political interference that hamper effective disaster response in Texas and other states.
Karen Evans, currently FEMA’s chief of staff, will assume the acting administrator role on December 1. Evans faces the challenge of rebuilding an agency that has lost significant expertise and credibility under the Trump administration’s restructuring efforts.
The resignation underscores longstanding concerns about the effectiveness of federal disaster management. Discussions in the Texas Legislature have increasingly focused on reducing reliance on federal disaster aid and strengthening state-controlled emergency response capabilities.
Richardson’s tenure also included managing hurricane responses in North Carolina and Florida, though his leadership during those events received less scrutiny than his Texas performance. His background as a Marine Corps artillery officer and former DHS official did not translate into effective emergency management leadership.
The federal disaster response failures during Richardson’s tenure have reinforced arguments for greater state autonomy in emergency management. Past incidents of federal overreach during disasters have demonstrated the risks of relying on Washington-controlled agencies for critical emergency response.
Texas officials have not immediately commented on Richardson’s resignation, but the state’s disaster response agencies continue preparing for future emergencies with or without effective federal support. The resignation leaves FEMA facing another leadership transition during peak disaster season.
