Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Administrator David Richardson left staffers scratching their heads after he told them he was unaware that there were hurricane seasons, according to a report.

Richardson, who has been the acting FEMA chief since last month, made the remark on the second day of U.S. hurricane season while leading a briefing, according to Reuters, which cited four people “familiar with the situation.”

Staff were left “baffled” by the comment, Reuters reported.

“It was not clear to staff whether he meant it literally, as a joke, or in some other context,” the news wire service reported.

Atlantic hurricane season, which affects the United States, began on Sunday and information on preparing for the storms is featured prominently on the FEMA website. It lasts until Nov. 30.

The report led Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to mock Richardson.

Tweeting the Reuters story, Schumer posted “And I’m unaware of why he hasn’t been fired yet.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, claimed Richardson was making a joke, adding the department is prepared for the hurricane season, according to Reuters.

“FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens,” a spokesperson told the wire service.