New FEMA Head Vows to "Run Right Over" Staff Resisting Changes, Suspends Delegation of Authority.

The new head of FEMA, David Richardson, has vowed to implement changes and "run right over" staff who resist, citing his military experience. All delegation of authority in the agency has been suspended, and Richardson emphasized that he will carry out the president's intent for FEMA. His comments come as the agency prepares for hurricane season and faces criticism for reducing aid to disaster-hit states.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is facing significant changes under its new administrator, David Richardson, as the agency prepares for the upcoming hurricane season. Richardson, who was appointed following the abrupt ouster of Cameron Hamilton, has vowed to implement changes and "run right over" staff who resist, citing his military experience [2]. This comes as FEMA faces criticism for reducing aid to disaster-hit states and as the agency runs out of cash [3].

Richardson, who previously served as a U.S. Marine Corps ground combat officer and assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, has suspended all delegation of authority within the agency and emphasized his commitment to carrying out the president's intent for FEMA [2]. His appointment follows Hamilton's dismissal, which was reported by Politico and confirmed by a FEMA spokesperson [1].

Hamilton, who was seen as supportive of FEMA's work despite the agency's public criticism by President Trump, had testified before a House subcommittee, stating that FEMA had strayed from its core mission and become an overextended federal bureaucracy [1]. He also acknowledged the creation of a FEMA Review Council and expressed his willingness to welcome its recommendations, but noted that he did not think it was in the best interest of the country to eliminate the agency [1].

Richardson's appointment and promises of change come at a critical time for FEMA. The agency is typically involved in helping states and local communities prepare for the onset of hurricane season, which starts on June 1 [2]. However, recent budget cuts and program eliminations, such as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, have raised concerns about FEMA's ability to effectively respond to disasters [1].

The new administrator's aggressive stance and military background have raised questions about the potential for significant changes within FEMA. However, the agency's effectiveness and the impact of these changes remain to be seen as the hurricane season approaches.

References:
[1] https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/05/08/823118.htm
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Acting-FEMA-chief-abruptly-ousted-ahead-of-U-S-hurricane-season-49882451/
[3] https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/05/05/congress/congress-fema-funding-00329662