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The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) urban search and rescue unit abruptly resigned on Monday, telling colleagues he was frustrated with hurdles imposed by the Trump administration that had slowed the agency’s response to the deadly floods in Texas earlier this month.

Ken Pagurek had led the urban search and rescue unit for a year after serving in the unit himself for over a decade, responding to natural disasters all over the country. In his resignation letter, he indicated that he would be moving back to Philadelphia to work for the city’s fire department.

“This decision was not made lightly, and after much reflection and prayer, it is the........

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