DHS inserts staffers at FEMA in major shakeup before hurricane season [View all]
Source: CNN Politics
Updated 4:18 PM EDT, Thu May 22, 2025
CNN — The Department of Homeland Security is inserting more than a half-dozen of its officials into key front office roles at the Federal Emergency Management Agency to effectively run the agency, according to multiple sources and an internal memo obtained by CNN.
The major shakeup comes less than two weeks before the official start of hurricane season. The homeland security officials will replace several longtime FEMA leaders, marking an inflection point in the Trump administration’s takeover of the disaster relief agency.
In a memo issued Wednesday, FEMA leadership formally announced the sweeping reorganization amid confusion, turmoil and a shrinking workforce at the agency under the administration, which has vowed to “eliminate” FEMA altogether.
The new officials will serve in critical advisory positions under new acting FEMA administrator David Richardson, a DHS official himself. They appear to have limited experience managing natural disasters, according to bios included in Wednesday’s announcement. Like Richardson, most of them have been serving in the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office at DHS, and some will split their time with their other roles at Homeland Security.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/22/politics/fema-staff-shakeup-homeland-security-dhs
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