David Richardson, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), left staff members baffled during a briefing by stating he was unaware the United States has a hurricane season.

This remark, made during an all-hands meeting, has raised significant concerns about Richardson’s familiarity with FEMA’s core operations, especially as the U.S. hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, began the previous day.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted up to 10 hurricanes for the 2025 season, underscoring the critical timing of the comment.

According to four sources familiar with the situation, it was unclear whether Richardson’s statement was intended as a joke or a literal admission of ignorance.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, representing FEMA’s parent agency, later clarified that the comment was meant in jest and affirmed that FEMA is prepared for the hurricane season.

The spokesperson emphasized that under Richardson and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, FEMA is transitioning to a “lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors.”

However, the remark has fueled confusion among agency staff, with three sources noting it reignited concerns about Richardson’s lack of disaster response experience.

Richardson, a former Marine artillery officer and assistant secretary at DHS’s office for countering weapons of mass destruction, was appointed FEMA’s acting chief in early May 2025 following the abrupt dismissal of his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton.

Hamilton’s firing stemmed from his public disagreement with President Donald Trump’s vision for FEMA, which includes shrinking or potentially eliminating the agency in favor of state-led disaster response.

Sources told Reuters that Trump allies had already been maneuvering to oust Hamilton due to his slow progress on restructuring FEMA.

The controversy comes at a precarious time for FEMA, which is grappling with internal challenges.

The agency has faced significant staff turnover, with roughly a third of its full-time employees departing since the start of Trump’s second term.

Additionally, FEMA has scaled back hurricane training and workshops for state and local emergency managers due to travel and speaking restrictions, raising concerns about its preparedness for an above-normal hurricane season.

Despite these cuts, Noem approved Richardson’s request to retain over 2,600 short-term disaster response employees, who constitute about 40% of FEMA’s workforce and are critical to on-the-ground efforts.

Richardson’s leadership has also been marked by inconsistent messaging.

He reportedly told staff to expect a new disaster response plan in May but later stated during the briefing that no changes would be made, citing potential conflicts with the Trump-established FEMA Review Council.

This back-and-forth has contributed to a lack of clear strategic guidance, further unsettling FEMA staff.

Democratic lawmakers have seized on the incident to criticize Richardson’s qualifications. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted the Reuters headline on X, stating he was “unaware of why he hasn’t been fired yet.”