Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton was abruptly removed from his post Thursday, just one day after publicly opposing the administration’s push to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Hamilton, a proud Trump supporter and former Navy SEAL who led FEMA since January, was reportedly escorted out of the agency’s headquarters after clashing with Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem’s vision to dismantle FEMA, according to sources cited by CNN.
An internal email reviewed by The Washington Post revealed that David Richardson, a Marine Corps veteran and assistant secretary for DHS’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, has been appointed to assume the duties of FEMA Administrator, effective immediately.
FEMA’s press office confirmed the move to POLITICO’s E&E News, stating plainly, “Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity.”
The reason for his removal remains unclear, but it comes just one day after Hamilton testified before the House Appropriations Committee, where he firmly opposed eliminating FEMA — a stance that directly contradicts the position of President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, both of whom have been pushing to return disaster preparedness and response to state and local control.
“As the senior adviser to the president on disasters and emergency management and to the secretary of homeland security, I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton said under questioning from Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). “Having said that, I am not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes.”
Watch Hamilton’s full opening statement, where he discussed restoring accountability at FEMA:
Former Navy SEAL @FEMA_Cam has been leading efforts to restore accountability at @FEMA and steer it in a direction that better serves the American people.
I’m grateful for his leadership.
Take a listen to his testimony today: pic.twitter.com/Tnu9ZZx6fo
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) May 7, 2025
President Trump has been clear about his disdain for FEMA’s bloated operations, particularly after its lackluster response to Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina last year.
“I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” Trump told the reporters during the press conference in January, vowing to transfer disaster response responsibilities to state governments.
“Frankly, FEMA is not good. I think when you have a problem like this, you want to go. Whether it’s a Democrat or Republican governor, you want to use your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA,” Trump added.
Noem, a staunch ally, echoed this sentiment, arguing that FEMA’s one-size-fits-all approach stifles local innovation and burdens taxpayers.
The ousting of Hamilton triggered Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) to release a statement:
“Yesterday, during a House Appropriations Committee Hearing, FEMA Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton said he does not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate FEMA. Today, he was summarily fired for simply telling the truth.
“As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management, with direct oversight of FEMA, I find this decision deeply troubling and dangerous. FEMA plays a critical role in the Department of Homeland Security, providing life-saving resources in the wake of disasters. FEMA exists to save lives.
“As cities like Buffalo wait on FEMA funding they are owed, Secretary Noem and President Trump have again chosen chaos over leadership. This administration continues to prioritize retaliation and cutting off critical resources that hardworking Americans rely on.
“Don’t be fooled – staff layoffs and the freezing of grant funds will continue to erode the public’s trust, furthering President Trump and Secretary Noem’s plan to dismantle FEMA piece by piece. These actions won’t just weaken emergency response across the country, they will cost lives. When that happens, President Trump, Secretary Noem, and every member of Congress who remains silent will be responsible. This is not real leadership. This is a dereliction of duty.”
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