(MENAFN) David Richardson resigned on Monday from his position as acting administrator of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, ending a brief tenure at the head of an organization the Trump administration has openly signaled it aims to reduce or "dismantle."

Richardson, who led the nation’s disaster response agency for roughly six months on an interim basis, kept a relatively low public profile and was often difficult to contact, even during the critical initial hours of the Texas flooding over the Fourth of July weekend.

Sources inside FEMA, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to fears of potential retaliation, told a media outlet that Richardson had recently become disengaged from daily responsibilities.

He frequently missed routine meetings and avoided tasks that would normally require the administrator to be accessible.

After reports by media outlets confirmed Richardson’s resignation, Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security’s assistant secretary for public affairs, announced that FEMA Chief of Staff Karen Evans will step in to fill the role starting in December.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, remains the parent organization responsible for managing the agency.

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