As the 2025 hurricane season approaches, confusion engulfed staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following a surprising remark by acting administrator David Richardson. During a daily operational briefing on Monday morning, Richardson mentioned he was unaware that the country has a hurricane season, leaving many employees feeling unsettled, according to three sources familiar with the meeting.
Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer who has been at the helm of FEMA since early May, made his comment at the end of the 8:30 a.m. briefing, which is attended by numerous FEMA staff and interagency partners. Reuters was the first outlet to report on his statement.
Following Richardson’s comments, it remained unclear whether he intended the remark seriously or in jest. Several current and former FEMA employees indicated to CBS News their belief that Richardson may have genuinely been taken aback by the onset of hurricane season. Others expressed that any humor related to the upcoming season fell flat, given the low morale among staff, which has been exacerbated by a wave of resignations, terminations, leadership changes, and the distribution of polygraph tests.
In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security downplayed the comment, affirming its lighthearted intent. “Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season. FEMA is laser focused on disaster response, and protecting the American people,” the spokesperson stated.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially commenced on June 1 and will extend until November. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recently forecasted an above-average season, predicting 13 to 19 named storms, with six to ten developing into hurricanes and three to five potentially strengthening into major hurricanes.