Sabotage Our Safety Calls on Acting FEMA Administrator to Resign Following Reporting Showing He Couldn’t Be Reached During Texas Flooding
AUSTIN, TX — Following explosive reporting from the Washington Post that showed Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson was unreachable for a full 24 hours during the first critical day of the deadly and devastating Hill Country flooding, in which over 130 people died, Sabotaging Our Safety demands Richardson’s immediate resignation.
“Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson must resign immediately. His disappearance during the most critical 24 hours of a deadly natural disaster is inexcusable and dangerous. As we head deeper into hurricane season, we cannot afford to have ill-equipped leaders who abandon their posts when Americans need them most,” said Derrick Osobase, Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council Member and CWA District 6 Vice President. “Richardson’s failure is exactly what happens when Trump guts FEMA’s experienced leadership and replaces them with political loyalists who care more about their allegiance to Trump than protecting American lives — all while dismantling essential FEMA funds.”
Earlier this year, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem changed FEMA policy requiring her personal approval for any spending over $100,000. When emergency response teams on the ground desperately needed Richardson to step in and secure Noem’s approval during the Texas crisis, he was missing in action for an entire day. Noem didn’t approve critical spending until 72 hours after the flooding began, delaying the deployment of essential search and rescue crews.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has systematically dismantled America’s emergency response capabilities when citizens need help most. Trump proposed eliminating FEMA entirely, then slashed 20% of FEMA staff, froze critical emergency funds, and cancelled FEMA’s flood protection program, eliminating $4.6 billion in funding nationwide.
To connect with Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council Members, please email press@sabotagingoursafety.org.
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