White House addresses FEMA acting director's 'jokes' about hurricane season [View all]
Source: ABC News
Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Richardson told staff in an all-hands meeting that he was unaware hurricane season had started, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
Hurricane season started on Sunday, June 1, and goes through Nov. 30. It is unclear if Richardson, who has led the agency since mid-May, was joking in the Monday meeting, but a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson argued he was.
When asked by reporters Tuesday during a White House press briefing whether President Donald Trump is "still comfortable" with Richardson following his remarks, press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed concerns and said FEMA is taking hurricane season "seriously, contrary to some of the reporting we have seen based on jokes that were made and leaks from meetings."
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The DHS spokesperson denied FEMA is unprepared, saying, "Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season."
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/femas-acting-director-unaware-hurricane-season-started-white/story?id=122455820
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