FEMA Chief of Urban Search and Rescue Ken Pagurek resigns amid Texas flood response criticism

Ken Pagurek, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Urban Search and Rescue chief, has resigned amid criticism over the agency's delayed response to Texas flooding and efforts by the federal government to dismantle the organization.

Pagurek served as chief for a year after more than a decade with the search and rescue branch, leading teams around the country in disaster response.

He announced his resignation on Monday as the agency faces criticism over delayed response to the deadly Hill Country flooding earlier this month. Pagurek said his decision was prompted by the delay and efforts by the Trump administration to overhaul the agency, according to CNN, which first reported his resignation.

However, the Department of Homeland Security maintained that FEMA experienced no delays in deployment of assets in Texas and attributed the time it took to approve a deployment contract to financial due diligence.

"If anyone is upset by the end of unchecked, blank-check spending under President Trump's administration that says more about them than it does about us," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to the Houston Chronicle Tuesday.

Throughout his second term, Trump has repeatedly said the FEMA was inefficient and his administration began the process to phase out the agency in the spring.

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Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones said on X that cuts made under the Trump administration hindered the agency's ability to respond to the flooding.

On July 6 and July 7, as the Guadalupe River flooded, thousands of calls to FEMA went unanswered because of understaffing, an investigation by the New York Times revealed. The understaffing occurred because hundreds of contractors at FEMA call centers were laid off after their contracts expired on July 5, the Times reported.

Pagurek did not mention the floods in his resignation letter but wrote he would be returning to Philadelphia's Fire Department, according to a letter obtained by CNN.

"This decision was not made lightly, and after much reflection and prayer, it is the right path for me at this time," Pagurek wrote. "I have been continually inspired by the unwavering dedication, unmatched courage, and deep-seated commitment we share for saving lives and bringing hope in the face of devastation."

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The White House deferred to the Department of Homeland Security in response to the Houston Chronicle's request for comment.

DHS defended FEMA's flood response and criticized Pagurek.

"It is laughable that a career public employee, who claims to serve the American people, would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a six-figure deployment contract without basic financial oversight," a DHS spokesperson wrote. "We’re being responsible with taxpayer dollars, that’s our job. Attempting to spin a personal career decision into some big scandal is ridiculous."