FEMA Acting Chief Dismissed Following Congressional Testimony and Policy Tensions
The acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cameron Hamilton, has been dismissed, reportedly just one day after giving congressional testimony that appeared to contradict the direction of the current Trump administration regarding federal disaster response policy.
Hamilton’s Testimony and Sudden Exit
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who had been leading FEMA in an acting capacity, testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee where he expressed concern over the idea of eliminating FEMA altogether — a possibility that has been floated by Trump-era officials.
“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton told lawmakers.
This statement seemed to be at odds with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has suggested shifting emergency management responsibilities to the state level — an idea President Donald Trump has reportedly endorsed.
According to Politico, Hamilton was called into a meeting at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was dismissed by Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar and Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to Trump. Sources with direct knowledge of the meeting confirmed the dismissal.
The FEMA press office later confirmed the leadership change in a statement, announcing that David Richardson, assistant secretary for the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, would serve as the new acting administrator.
Internal Turmoil and Broader FEMA Shake-up
Reports indicate that Hamilton had considered resigning earlier this year as the Trump administration began shaping new leadership within FEMA but was encouraged by staff to stay on.
His firing follows a broader reshuffle within FEMA. DHS recently terminated four FEMA officials involved in what was described as an “egregious” payment to support hotel stays for undocumented migrants in New York City.
A DHS spokesperson told Fox News that these payments were made without proper approval and were not aligned with FEMA’s intended mission of American disaster relief.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk drew attention to the issue on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that FEMA had sent $59 million to luxury hotels to house migrants — a claim that intensified scrutiny over FEMA’s spending.
“That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals,” Musk posted, stating that a demand for the return of those funds would be issued.
Trump’s Criticism of FEMA and Push for Reform
Former President Donald Trump has openly criticized FEMA, both during and after his presidency. During a recent visit to North Carolina — a state still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which struck in late 2024 — Trump suggested that FEMA had failed to provide adequate support.
“FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down,” Trump said. “I don’t know if that’s Biden’s fault or whose fault it is, but we’re going to take over. We’re going to do a good job.”
He announced plans to issue an executive order aimed at overhauling the agency, or possibly dismantling it altogether, in favor of empowering state governments to handle disaster response more independently.
“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters… You’ll do it for less than half, and you’re going to get a lot quicker response,” Trump added.
Looking Ahead
As FEMA undergoes rapid changes under the returning Trump administration, the future of federal disaster management remains uncertain.
While some officials advocate for increased state-level responsibility, others stress the importance of maintaining a centralized agency to coordinate large-scale emergency response across the U.S.
The coming months may bring additional reforms, as the administration works to reshape the national disaster response system amid public and political scrutiny.
