The Trump administration’s top official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency is departing his post after about six months on the job, according to the Washington Post.
David Richardson resigned on Monday as FEMA’s acting head, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Richardson has served as the senior official performing the duties of FEMA administrator since early May.
Richardson had no emergency management experience when he took on the role. He came to FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, where he was an assistant secretary. Richardson was publicly criticized for FEMA’s handling of catastrophic 4th of July floods, which killed more than 130 people in Texas.
Trump has not named a nominee to serve as FEMA’s permanent administrator in his second term. According to statute, the role is only open to people with demonstrated skill in emergency management. The job also requires congressional confirmation.
Photo: David Richardson during a House hearing in Washington, DC, on July 23. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg
Topics Washington FEMA
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