Garamendi statement on FEMA administrator’s resignation in wake of botched Texas flood response

Today, Congressman John Garamendi issued a statement in wake of Trump’s Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson’s resignation.

“I am relieved that Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson resigned today,” Garamendi said. “Richardson’s incompetence became clear soon after taking the post. It ranged from the eyebrow-raising comment that he didn’t know the U.S. had a hurricane season to his week-late response to the tragic Texas floods. As climate disasters pile up around the country, I urge Trump’s next FEMA administrator to take a science-based approach to saving lives and not be a partisan warrior. The stakes are too high for anything less.”

Background
In July, Garamendi questioned Richardson during an oversight hearing at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Garamendi pressed Richardson on the future of FEMA and the delayed response to the Texas hurricane- here are the responses below.

Click here to see a transcript of the Texas Flood botched response.

“It took nine days for you to arrive in Texas following the disaster there,” Garamendi said. “Is that the normal going forward?”

So, as I promised the people of Texas, they would get the — what they needed on time and on target,” Richardson said. “And I talked to the emergency manager of Texas and he — I asked him, ‘What is the best thing I can do for you?’ ‘Remain on the ground and make sure that we get what we need on time.’ So, I remained in Washington, D.C., kicking down the doors of bureaucracy.”

“So, the top leadership of FEMA is not expected to respond to emergencies across the nation.” Garamendi asked. “Instead, you’re going to remain in your offices her in Washington D.C. I got it.”

“I did go to Texas, and I went to Texas to confirm with the people of Texas that I had delivered on my promise,” Richardson said.

“We’ll see if that delivery is real or not,” Garamendi said. “Can you commit to us today that FEMA will exist in the future? Will it be able to carry out its functions under the law and under the needs of this nation? Or do you not know?”

“What I can commit to is the President wants a better emergency management [system] for the American people,” Richardson said. “And that’s a noble goal. The president is a noble man. That’s what he wants. He wants a better emergency management capability.”

“Does that mean FEMA is gone and there will be something new and different?” Garamendi asked.

“In his wisdom and with Secretary Noem and Secretary Hegseth, the President has appointed a FEMA counsel … ” Richardson said.

“So, the answer is blowing in the wind?” Garamendi asked. “You cannot confirm that it is a policy of the administration to maintain FEMA? I understand that.”