DHS says FEMA head was joking when he said he wasn't aware of hurricane season

Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Richardson was joking erstwhile helium said astatine a gathering Monday that helium was not alert of the upcoming hurricane season, the Department of Homeland Security said successful a statement.

Reuters reported that Richardson said astatine a briefing that helium was not alert the United States has a hurricane season, confusing staffers. The report, which said it was unclear if Richardson was superior oregon joking, cited 4 unnamed sources acquainted with the situation.

“Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely framework a gag arsenic policy, determination is nary uncertainty astir what FEMA volition beryllium doing this Hurricane Season. FEMA is laser focused connected catastrophe response, and protecting the American people,” a spokesperson for DHS said. The spokesperson added that Richardson is “activated successful mentation for Hurricane Season.”

Richardson took the reins astatine FEMA past month. The erstwhile acting administrator, Cameron Hamilton, was removed from his job aft helium told lawmakers astatine a legislature proceeding that helium did not judge the bureau should beryllium eliminated. DHS has denied that Hamilton's ouster was related to his testimony.

FEMA is liable for coordinating the government’s exigency effect to areas affected by earthy disasters, specified arsenic hurricanes. Hurricane play runs from June done November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted determination is simply a 60% accidental of an above-normal season this year, during which the United States could get six to 10 hurricanes, 3 to 5 of which could beryllium “major.”

Democrats blasted Richardson pursuing the study astir the meeting.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., referred to the Reuters study erstwhile helium wrote connected X, "And I’m unaware of wherefore helium hasn’t been fired yet."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., besides took purpose astatine Richardson, writing connected X, "Bare minimum request for the person of FEMA: cognize erstwhile hurricane play is."

President Donald Trump and his allies person repeatedly floated the thought of terminating the exigency catastrophe agency.

During a sojourn to North Carolina successful January to survey the harm of Hurricane Helene, which swept crossed the authorities precocious past year, Trump suggested overhauling oregon doing distant with FEMA, calling it “very bureaucratic” and “very slow.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has besides suggested that FEMA should beryllium eliminated. But without an alternate program and with hurricane play approaching, Noem has besides softly made efforts to support the bureau running, sources acquainted with the concern have told NBC News.