On his way out, the now-dismissed acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cameron Hamilton, defended FEMA’s underwhelming performance during the Biden administration while firing parting shots at the Trump administration. Hamilton was reportedly called to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was relieved of his duties by Deputy DHS Secretary Troy Edgar and senior Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, according to Politico.
His firing came just one day after testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, where he publicly disagreed with recent comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem and Trump have floated the idea of eliminating FEMA and shifting disaster response responsibilities to the states. “I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton said during the hearing.
FEMA confirmed Hamilton’s dismissal shortly afterward. “Effective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator,” a FEMA spokesperson said. Richardson previously served as Assistant Secretary for the DHS’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, had reportedly considered resigning earlier this year but was urged to stay by FEMA staff. His ousting follows a broader DHS shake-up under President Trump. Earlier this year, DHS fired four FEMA employees for authorizing $59 million in hotel payments to house illegal immigrants in New York City. DHS claimed the payments were made without leadership approval.
Billionaire Elon Musk criticized the spending on X, calling it “egregious” and urging the Trump administration to claw back the funds. “That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals,” Musk wrote.
Trump has signaled major changes are coming to FEMA. During a recent visit to hurricane-hit North Carolina, he floated the possibility of eliminating the agency altogether, saying FEMA had “let us down.” Trump argued that disaster response should be shifted to the state level, claiming it would be faster, cheaper, and more effective.
“We’re going to do a good job,” Trump promised. “And we’re going to do it without FEMA slowing things down.”
