'I will run right over you': New FEMA boss hurls aggressive greeting at staff
The new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency greeted his staff Friday with an aggressive promise to "run right over" anyone who doesn't get with his program, according to a new report by Reuters.
"Obfuscation, delay, undermining. If...you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not, because I will run right over you," David Richardson said during an all-hands call. "Don't get in my way... I know all the tricks."
Richardson, a combat veteran who previously served with DHS's office for countering weapons of mass destruction, was appointed to replace acting FEMA chief Cameron Hamilton.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem canned Hamilton this week after he told a congressional hearing "he did not support eliminating the agency," according to the report.
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Noem and President Donald Trump "have called for the agency to be shrunk or even abolished, arguing that many of its functions can be carried out by the states, a stance that is already leading to decreased federal aid for disasters."
According to Reuters, Richardson said he would "look to narrow the agency's operations to only actions that 'are within the law' and 'within our mission,'" but gave no details.
Richardson sent memos to staff Friday directing them to "begin collating lists of FEMA tasks and authorities" so he could identify redundancies and achieve "Trump's vision for the agency," Reuters reported.
"We're going to find out how to do things better," Richardson said during the staff call. "We're going to find out how to push things down to the states that should be done at state level. Also we're going to find out how we can do more cost sharing with the states."
Reuters noted that the leadership change comes just before hurricane season gets underway June 1.