Summary
Less than two weeks before the Atlantic hurricane season, FEMA’s acting Administrator David Richardson has rescinded the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, citing its disconnection from the agency’s mission. The strategic plan, introduced under former administrator Deanne Criswell, aimed to instill equity, enhance climate resilience, and promote preparedness but is now replaced by a new strategy focusing solely on legal requirements. Critics, including a FEMA official, warn that this shift, including the elimination of the Office of Resilience Strategy, could reduce the agency’s effectiveness in disaster preparedness and mitigation.