David Richardson, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has resigned after six months in the role. Richardson, who assumed the position in May following the removal of his predecessor by Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, stepped down on Monday. The DHS lauded Richardson for his ‘dedicated service’ and his efforts in overseeing a review that identified and eliminated significant governmental waste and inefficiency, while refocusing the agency to deliver swift resources to Americans in crisis. Karen Evans, the current FEMA chief of staff, will succeed Richardson starting December 1. Richardson’s tenure was marred by criticism over FEMA’s response to devastating floods in Texas during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, which claimed over 130 lives, including several children at a summer camp. Richardson was notably inaccessible during the early hours of the crisis and later defended the agency’s response as a ‘model’ for handling such events, despite reports of delayed deployments and other issues. Earlier this year, Richardson made a controversial comment about being unaware of the US hurricane season, which a DHS spokesperson dismissed as a joke. A former Marine combat veteran, Richardson also led the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office, a role he will continue. The DHS announced that Richardson will return to the private sector. The Trump administration has emphasized the need for reforms at FEMA, criticizing it as overly bureaucratic and inefficient in delivering disaster relief. President Trump has previously proposed dismantling the agency, advocating for states to take on more responsibility for disaster preparedness and response. FEMA is currently under review by a presidential council, with the DHS stating that the final report is ‘forthcoming’ and will inform ongoing efforts to fundamentally restructure the agency.