The Daily Fuckup

David Richardson is out as the senior official performing the duties of FEMA administrator. DHS said he departed on November 17, 2025, and that Karen Evans was slated to step in on December 1. Richardson had held the job since May, when Cameron Hamilton was removed.

The handoff lands while the administration is still pressing ahead with a formal review of FEMA’s future. DHS formed the FEMA Review Council in February after an executive order issued on January 24, 2025, and the council’s charter says it is meant to examine whether the agency is delivering disaster help effectively and to recommend changes in the national interest.

Richardson also drew notice for his management style. In remarks to staff after taking the post, he reportedly warned employees not to stand in his way and said he would run over resistance to his plans. That comment was reported at the time, not something FEMA has cast as policy.

The statute governing the FEMA administrator position lays out qualification standards for the role, including emergency management and homeland security experience plus executive leadership experience. Those standards apply to the job itself; they do not by themselves answer how long an acting official can serve while the administration decides who should hold the post next.

For now, FEMA stays in transition while the White House keeps weighing how much of disaster response should remain federal and how much should be pushed to states and local governments. The agency is still being asked to run storm and flood response while the top slot keeps changing hands.