Trump Appointee at FEMA Signals State-Led Shift

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Trump Appointee at FEMA Signals State-Led Shift \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ New FEMA acting chief David Richardson, a former Marine, has warned agency staff not to resist sweeping changes under the Trump administration, previewing a shift toward increased state responsibility for disaster response and internal restructuring.

Quick Looks

David Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer, is now FEMA’s acting administrator.
In his first agency-wide call, he warned staff not to obstruct coming changes.
Richardson emphasized increased cost-sharing with states and possible FEMA downsizing.
He pledged to align FEMA’s mission directly with Trump’s policy agenda.
His predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was fired a day after disagreeing with the idea of eliminating FEMA.
A full internal “Mission Analysis” of FEMA is underway.
Trump’s administration has created a 13-member council to reform emergency management.

Deep Look

In a dramatic shift at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the new acting administrator, David Richardson, delivered a stark and uncompromising message to staff: resist the changes ahead, and you will be overrun. In a Friday morning agency-wide call, Richardson made clear that FEMA’s culture is about to undergo significant transformation under his leadership — one aligned closely with the Trump administration’s agenda to decentralize federal disaster response.

Richardson, a decorated former Marine Corps officer with combat service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa, was appointed just one day after the sudden dismissal of Cameron Hamilton, who also served in an acting role. Until now, Richardson served as the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction — a post far removed from FEMA’s usual domain of hurricanes, wildfires, and disaster relief. Despite lacking direct experience in managing natural disasters, Richardson told staff that his leadership would remain loyal to FEMA’s core mission while emphasizing that he alone would interpret directives from President Donald Trump.

The appointment marks a pivotal moment for FEMA, long regarded as the backbone of federal emergency response efforts. But under Trump’s second administration, the agency is being eyed for radical restructuring, including the controversial possibility of eliminating FEMA altogether and shifting its responsibilities — and resources — directly to the states.

Richardson’s remarks signaled not only policy change but also a cultural overhaul. “This is the tough part,” he prefaced, before warning what he estimated as the 20% of staff who might seek to delay or obstruct changes. “Obfuscation. Delay. Undermining,” he said, listing tactics he claimed to recognize. “I will achieve the president’s intent. I am as bent on achieving the president’s intent as I was on making sure that I did my duty when I took my Marines to Iraq.”

The former Marine’s combative tone starkly contrasts with FEMA’s traditionally bureaucratic and collaborative leadership style, which often involves coordinating with governors, mayors, and local emergency managers. His approach implies a top-down, no-nonsense management style, firmly rooted in command and control — a departure from FEMA’s existing, more consensus-driven operations.

One of the most immediate changes previewed by Richardson was a shift in federal-state cost sharing during disaster recovery. “We’re going to find out how to do things better and how to push things down to the states that should be done at the state level,” he told staff. This signals a significant philosophical pivot in how disasters are managed in the U.S.

Currently, the federal government — primarily through FEMA — bears the lion’s share of financial responsibility in declared disasters. However, with climate change increasing both the frequency and severity of natural disasters, the FEMA disaster relief fund is consistently stretched. This has triggered growing debate in Washington over how much of that financial burden should be shouldered by states.

Richardson’s comments align with Republican efforts to decentralize government responsibilities, reduce federal spending, and increase state autonomy. But this vision is controversial. Many states argue that they already lead the response to most disasters and that federal assistance is only requested when an event overwhelms local resources.

Internal Overhaul: ‘Mission Analysis’ in Motion

Richardson outlined a forthcoming “Mission Analysis” — a comprehensive internal review of FEMA’s structure and function. This assessment will examine operational redundancies, eliminate inefficiencies, and reassert FEMA’s “core” mission. The goal, Richardson explained, is to deter “mission creep” — the gradual expansion of the agency’s role beyond its original mandate.

According to internal memos obtained by the Associated Press, Richardson has tasked FEMA staff with developing several key reports in the coming weeks:

A detailed readiness assessment for 2025.
A list of current capability and preparedness gaps.
A comprehensive set of lessons learned from past disasters.
A historical overview of U.S. disaster response before FEMA’s existence, focusing on the role of states versus federal agencies.

By reassessing FEMA’s history and gaps, Richardson appears to be laying the groundwork for a scaled-back FEMA, potentially leaving day-to-day emergency response to state and local governments while maintaining limited federal coordination roles.

FEMA in Political Crosshairs

Richardson’s aggressive entry into FEMA leadership follows the abrupt removal of Cameron Hamilton, who was dismissed shortly after testifying before a House subcommittee. In his testimony, Hamilton expressed skepticism about eliminating FEMA — a position that seemingly put him at odds with the White House.

While Hamilton acknowledged that the decision to dismantle FEMA was above his authority, his remarks were enough to spark a swift response. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that Hamilton’s comments contradicted the administration’s policy goals. “Of course we want to make sure that people in every position are advancing the administration’s goals,” she said.

President Trump has long been critical of FEMA and has floated the idea of abolishing the agency entirely, rerouting funds to state governments to manage emergency response. A 13-member reform council, chaired by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has already been created to explore how to “streamline and reform” the nation’s disaster management structure.

What Comes Next?

Richardson’s tenure begins at a pivotal time: FEMA is entering hurricane season, traditionally the agency’s busiest and most critical period. With the Mission Analysis underway, staff were told that memos would follow later on Friday, and a town hall meeting next week would offer an opportunity for questions.

Despite the tough rhetoric, Richardson acknowledged the complexity of his task, calling FEMA an “unwieldy beast.” Yet his military background, alignment with the Trump administration’s objectives, and no-tolerance approach to internal dissent suggest that FEMA will face rapid and potentially disruptive changes in the months ahead.

Whether these changes will lead to greater efficiency or confusion during disaster response — particularly at the state level — will likely determine Richardson’s legacy and FEMA’s future.