The acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was unable to say whether the agency would continue under the Trump administration when asked by lawmakers Wednesday. Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Emergency Management, acting FEMA chief David Richardson was asked by Democrats point blank whether FEMA will continue to exist. President Donald Trump has suggested repeatedly that the agency could be eliminated as part of his government-shrinking measures. … Richardson made his first Capitol Hill appearance for the hearing on FEMA reform. The emergency management agency is under heavy scrutiny in the wake of flooding in Texas earlier this month that killed more than 130 people.

Other FEMA news:

• Spectrum News: FEMA chief rejects criticism, calls Texas floods response ‘a model’ for dealing with disaster
• Reuters: FEMA chief would report directly to US president under new bill
• The New York Times: FEMA’s director defends the response to Texas flooding during a hearing with lawmakers
• The Hill: FEMA leader defends agency response to Texas floods