Acting FEMA head resigns

David Richardson, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, resigned Monday, two administration officials confirmed to NBC News.

David Richardson, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, resigned Monday after roughly six months leading the agency, two administration officials confirmed to NBC News.

Richardson’s short time as head of FEMA came during a turbulent chapter for the agency. President Donald Trump's administration has proposed major cuts to its budget, and Trump in June publicly called for the agency to be phased out after hurricane season winds down at the end of November.

In a statement on Monday, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency, expressed “sincere appreciation” to Richardson “for his dedicated service.”

A DHS spokesperson said that FEMA's current chief of staff, Karen Evans, will step into the acting administrator position beginning Dec. 1.

Richardson on Monday said he agreed to be acting director during a challenging time. He said he was leaving because he wanted to return to private industry.