Mar. 10—House Speaker Pro Tem Fred Doucette, R-Salem, resigned the House seat he’s held for six terms to join the Trump administration as the Region 1 administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Boston.
The federal Hatch Act bars anyone from holding an elected state post while working for the federal government.
“As a steadfast representative of New Hampshire, his commitment to this state and constituents has been unwavering. His wisdom and experience will undoubtedly guide his team with integrity and purpose,” said House Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, who was the first to confirm the hiring.
“On behalf of the N.H. House of Representatives, congratulations once again, and thank you, Fred, for your service to both New Hampshire and our nation. It has been a pleasure serving with you.”
A retired firefighter and paramedic, Doucette, 60, was a loyal and early supporter of then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2015.
After Trump won the White House, there were reports that Doucette would be tapped to work in the federal Department of Agriculture, but that appointment never came to pass.
Doucette also worked on behalf of Trump in 2020.
In the spring of 2023, Doucette revealed that he had left the Trump team and instead would be paid senior adviser to the rival GOP campaign of entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
After a disappointing showing in the Iowa caucus, Ramaswamy dropped out and backed Trump, bringing many of his supporters with him, including Doucette.
Packard had promoted Doucette in the House GOP pecking order, making him speaker pro tem to replace former Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, who did not seek reelection.
A champion for nonprofits at casinos
Along with his leadership post, Doucette was a longtime member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
He’s been a strong supporter of expanding legalized gambling to benefit nonprofits.
Doucette authored the state law in 2024 that extended for another seven years the monopoly charity casinos have with historic horse racing machines.
The electronic gambling machines touched off an explosion of gambling profits for both casino owners and the nonprofits.
On Monday, Doucette didn’t show up for his legislation (HB 728) that would eventually convert the casinos to dropping HRH machines in favor of traditional slot machines seen at mega-casinos like Foxwoods in Connecticut and on the Las Vegas strip.
