July 10, 2025
FEMA Administrator Richardson absent as Stafford Act response fails Texas
Director absent as 100+ die in unprecedented flooding
🌪️Disaster Management🔐Ethics
Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson hasn’t visited central Texas since deadly flooding struck in early July 2025, prompting concerns that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is running the response and slowing critical aid to survivors.
FEMA lost roughly 2,000 full-time staff (one-third of workforce) since Trump took office in January 2025 ahead of hurricane season
Internal FEMA review dated May 12, 2025 concluded agency is 'not ready' for hurricane season due to staffing cuts and leadership turmoil
Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson apparently unaware U.S. had a hurricane season during June 2025 staff briefing, raising competence concerns
Trump and DHS Secretary 
Kristi Noem plan to 'eliminate FEMA as it exists today' after 2025 hurricane season ends
Hurricane season 2025 forecast by NOAA predicts above-normal activity with up to 10 hurricanes, some potentially severe
FEMA hiring freeze and contract renewal process affects majority of disaster response workforce including CORE employees
Agency canceled emergency management trainings and restricted travel to hurricane conferences due to budget and staffing constraints
🌪️Disaster Management🔐Ethics
People, bills, and sources
David Richardson
Acting FEMA Administrator
Kristi Noem
Homeland Security Secretary
Cameron Hamilton
Former Acting FEMA Administrator
Craig Fugate
Former FEMA Director
Laura Grimm
Acting NOAA Administrator
What You Can Do
1
Contact your Governor immediately to demand state emergency preparedness plans as federal disaster response collapses
2
Call Congress at 202-224-3121 to restore FEMA funding and reverse staff cuts before hurricane season peaks in September
3
Join advocacy through National Emergency Management Association at nemaweb.org demanding professional disaster leadership
4
Sign emergency preparedness petitions at ready.gov and create family disaster plans without relying on federal response
5
Support disaster relief organizations like American Red Cross at redcross.org that will fill gaps in federal response capacity
6
Monitor hurricane forecasts closely at nhc.noaa.gov and evacuate early since federal response will be severely compromised