By Gabriela Aoun Angueira and Rebecca Santana
Washington (AP) – The new leader of the Federal Agency responsible for responding to disasters across the country warned the staff at a meeting on Friday not to try to hinder future changes, saying that “I am going to start on you” while suggesting political changes that would push more responsibilities to the States.
David Richardson, a former officer of the Marine Corps who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, was appointed acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency just after Cameron Hamilton, who had managed the agency, also in an actor role, was dismissed.
Richardson was the deputy secretary of the Ministry of Internal Security for the fight against the weapons of mass destruction. He does not seem to have any experience in the management of natural disasters, but during a call early in the morning with all the agency’s staff, he said that the agency would stick to his mission and said that he would be the one who would interpret the advice of President Donald Trump.
Preface his comments with the words “now is the difficult part,” said Richardson during the call with agency staff to thousands of people he understands that people can be nervous during change. But he had a warning for those who may not like changes – a group he estimated at around 20% of any organization.
“Don’t get on my way if you’re 20% of people,” he said. “I know all the tips.”
“Obfuscation. Delay. Amps up. If you are one of these 20% of people and you think that these tactics and techniques will help you, they will not do it because I will finish you on you,” he said. “I will achieve the president’s intention. I am also determined to achieve the president’s intention that I made sure to do my duty when I took my navies to Iraq. ”
He previewed what could be in advance
Richardson also reminded staff that FEMA was part of the Ministry of Internal Security: “Don’t forget that.”
In an overview of what could happen in terms of policy changes, Richardson also said that there would be more “cost sharing with states”.
“We are going to discover how to do things better, and we will discover how to push things to the states that should be done at the level of the state. Let’s also know how we can do more costs with the States,” he said.
This question – how many states, as opposed to the federal government, should pay for the resumption after disaster – has been an increasing concern, in particular at a time of more natural disasters which often oblige the Congress to repeatedly reconstruct the federal fund which pays for recovery.
But states often support that they already pay for most of the disasters by themselves and only go to the federal government for these events really outside their ability to respond.
Richardson did not answer questions from staff members, saying he wanted them to read memos he was going to send later on Friday. He has planned a town hall next week, when he answers staff questions.
A “mission analysis” is provided for FEMA
In the service notes obtained by the Associated Press, Richardson told the agency that it would carry out an “mission analysis” of the organization to identify “layoffs and ineffectiveness” while clarifying the “basic” mission of the organization and “dissuaring the mission flucture”.
He also listed the tasks to be performed in the coming weeks – in particular by providing internal assessments of the agency’s preparation for 2025; a list of all known gaps “in the preparation or basic capacities”; A list of lessons learned from past disasters; and an overview of “disaster aid before the existence of FEMA and the role of states and the federal government coordinating disaster management”.
He said he was honored to be in the role, leading an organization he described as a “loose beast”.
Richardson arrives at FEMA at a time of immense troubles and, while he is preparing for the hurricanes season, an extremely busy period for the agency.
Trump, a republican, suggested abolishing fema and providing money directly to the states to manage. He created an examination council responsible for “reforming and rationalizing the emergency management system and response to the country’s disasters”. The council of 13 members is chaired by the interior security secretary Kristi Noem and the defense secretary Pete Hegseth.
Internal security did not specifically explain why Hamilton had been removed from his post. But his dismissal one day came after appearing before a sub-comity of the room where he was questioned on the plans to eliminate FEMA and said that he did not think that the agency should be eliminated.
“That said,” continued Hamilton, “I am unable to make decisions and impact on the results on the question of whether a determination as should be done.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was questioned on the dismissal of Hamilton on Friday and suggested that this was linked to her testimony to the congress, but did not specify exactly what he said who had led to his dismissal.
“This person testified by saying something that was contrary to what the president believes and the objectives of this administration with regard to the policy of FEMA. So, of course, we want to make sure that people of each position advance the objectives of the administration, “she said.
The writer Associated Press Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this story.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
