Overview

• At a June 2 FEMA briefing, acting administrator David Richardson said he had been unaware of the U.S. hurricane season, leaving staff baffled.
• The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 with forecasts of up to 10 storms and heightened concerns over agency preparedness.
• Richardson, a former Marine and weapons counterproliferation official with no disaster response background, took charge in early May after his predecessor was abruptly fired.
• Since 2021 FEMA has lost roughly one-third of its full-time workforce and sharply reduced hurricane training and workshops under new travel and speaking restrictions.
• Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem approved retaining more than 2,600 short-term disaster responders whose contracts were due to expire this year.