FEMA Chief Defends Texas Flood Response as National Model Amid Criticism

U.S. House Democrats Question FEMA's Response to Hill Country Flooding

During a hearing in Washington, U.S. House Democrats confronted David Richardson, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), regarding the agency’s handling of the severe flooding that impacted the Hill Country region. The discussion centered on the effectiveness of FEMA’s response and whether more could have been done to prevent loss of life.

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat from Arizona, highlighted the heroic efforts of Coast Guard personnel and other first responders who rescued individuals trapped by floodwaters. He expressed concern that FEMA might have been slow to deploy additional search and rescue resources. “It haunts me that we could have had more urban search and rescue pre-positioned in place,” Stanton said. “We could have saved more of those people who were clinging onto those trees but weren’t able to hang on for long enough.”

Richardson, testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Emergency Management, defended FEMA’s actions. He claimed that the agency’s collaboration with Texas officials was a model for other states dealing with future disasters. However, he faced criticism over the agency’s performance during the flooding event.

The scrutiny of FEMA has intensified due to recent discussions about reducing or eliminating the agency under President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Administration officials have proposed an overhaul that would shift more responsibility to state and local authorities. According to Reuters, approximately 2,000 full-time FEMA staff, or one-third of its total workforce, have left voluntarily or been terminated under Trump.

Democrats pointed out reports that many calls to FEMA’s disaster assistance line went unanswered after relevant contracts expired. They also questioned a policy introduced by Noem that requires her approval for contracts exceeding $100,000. Critics argue that this focus on budget restraint creates delays in disaster response.

Richardson responded by stating that Noem has been quick to approve contracts and that he has not seen any undue delays. He emphasized that the Texas response was efficient and effective, calling it a model for the country. “The support that was so critical to the people in the state of Texas on their worst day was on target, on time,” he said.

He also dismissed reports of unanswered calls as “fake news,” claiming that the agency increases support to call centers following disasters. “The majority of the calls were answered. There was never a lapse in contract,” he stated.

When asked about lessons learned from the flooding response, Richardson maintained that he couldn’t see anything wrong with FEMA’s actions. He emphasized the importance of personal relationships and plans to share what he called “strengths” with other states. He also mentioned that the administration is returning FEMA to its original mission of supporting state and local partners.

“FEMA needs to return to a model where disaster response and recovery are locally led and state managed with federal support available when needed,” Richardson said. “As the president has said, sometimes FEMA gets in the way. FEMA should never get in the way.”

U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, chairman of the House Science Committee, announced that his panel will conduct a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the flooding. He also emphasized the need to prioritize improving weather communication, strengthening coordination with local officials, and accelerating innovation in weather-related legislation.

“We owe it to every single family, camper, counselor, first responder, to make sure that their pain leads to progress,” Babin said.