Acting FEMA chief David Richardson steps down as Trump admin continues reshaping agency operations

A spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security told Fox News the agency applauded Richardson's leadership during a year of intense storms and deep internal reform, saying his tenure brought record relief funding, targeted efficiency measures, and a renewed focus on getting aid quickly to communities in need.

"We anticipate the forthcoming release of the FEMA Review Council's final report, which will inform this Administration's ongoing efforts to fundamentally restructure FEMA, transforming it from its current form into a streamlined, mission-focused disaster-response force," the spokesperson continued. "Starting Dec. 1, FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will step into this important role."

At the time, more than 190 former and current FEMA employees signed an open letter condemning the administration's cuts and restructuring, prompting Noem to place several active staff members on administrative leave.

She dismissed their objections as the protests of "career bureaucrats" resistant to accountability, saying the agency had long been burdened by inefficiency and waste.

Even some Democrats have acknowledged progress under the Trump administration's FEMA, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who said earlier this year that the agency's performance on the ground was "a credit to [Trump's] administration."

Fox News Digital's Preston Mizell contributed to this report.