Acting FEMA Administrator Questioned at Hearing on Texas Flood Response

By Alyssa Kemp, NLIHC DHR Intern and Noah Patton, NLIHC Director of Disaster Recovery 

On July 23, 2025, the House held a hearing on FEMA’s disaster response to the deadly Texas flash floods that claimed over 130 lives. Lawmakers questioned Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson over the agency’s handling of the catastrophe, and bipartisan frustration focused on FEMA’s bureaucratic delays, structural weaknesses, and overall readiness to meet the scale of modern disasters. Richardson faced criticism after admitting to being on vacation during the crisis, though he insisted he remained actively engaged from his vehicle. Lawmakers also highlighted serious operational failures, especially at FEMA’s call centers, where on some days less than 16% of calls were answered.  

Richardson dismissed those figures as “fake news,” but Committee members repeatedly cited internal call center data showing significant service gaps. He stated that he believed disaster survivors in need of assistance would not call the agency during the weekend and so it was reasonable to begin staffing the center the following Monday morning, days after the scope of the damage was clear and FEMA resources were deployed. While questions were more pointed from Democratic members of the Committee, Republican members also sought answers about the lag in response and the inconsistency in the agency’s statements with lawmakers during the days following the disaster.  

Lawmakers on both sides repeatedly asked questions regarding the cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program that paused vital disaster mitigation projects in communities across the country. The acting administrator stated that the program was cancelled because projects included bike lanes and planting trees.   

The hearing also drew attention to delays in FEMA capacity due to internal approval thresholds, such as the need for a single sign-off on contracts over $100,000. In response to these systemic issues, Rep. Larsen promoted the “Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act,” a bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling the agency. The proposed legislation would reestablish FEMA as an independent cabinet-level agency, streamline disaster aid through a universal Individual Assistance application, and create new programs to encourage resilience and recovery. 

The hearing concluded with Richardson aligning himself with the Administration’s characterization of their activity following the floods as the “best FEMA response ever.” He described the Texas response as a “model of how response should be done,” calling it “an outstanding response” and stating, “the people of Texas deserved that outstanding response.”