FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton Fired After Opposing Agency Elimination
WASHINGTON — Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was dismissed Friday after publicly testifying before Congress against the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate the agency and shift disaster relief responsibilities to state governments.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL and Trump appointee, directly contradicted the White House’s position during his testimony, stating that dismantling FEMA would not serve the best interests of the American people. He was removed from his position the following day, with the administration moving swiftly to confirm his departure.
David Richardson, a longtime FEMA and DHS official and former Marine, has been appointed as interim administrator.
The firing highlights the administration’s aggressive push to reduce federal oversight in disaster management, a priority President Trump has championed citing bureaucratic inefficiency and excessive spending. Critics argue the move overlooks the financial and logistical burdens many states would face handling major disasters independently.
The dismissal follows recent controversies at FEMA, including the termination of officials linked to a $59 million program that housed undocumented immigrants in luxury hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
