Cameron Hamilton, the recently dismissed acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), defended the agency’s disaster response efforts under the Biden administration while also taking measured criticism at the current direction of leadership under Donald Trump. Hamilton was reportedly called to the Department of Homeland Security headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was informed of his removal by Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar and senior adviser Corey Lewandowski. His dismissal came just one day after he testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee, where his remarks appeared to contradict statements from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the potential elimination of FEMA and shifting disaster funding responsibilities to state governments.
During his testimony, Hamilton clearly opposed the idea, stating that dismantling FEMA would not be in the best interest of the American public. Shortly after, FEMA confirmed his departure and announced that David Richardson would step in as the acting lead. A former Navy SEAL, Hamilton had reportedly considered resigning earlier during the transition period but chose to remain after encouragement from agency staff. His exit follows a series of internal changes within DHS, including the firing of four FEMA employees over a controversial $59 million expenditure used to house migrants in New York City hotels.
The issue gained further attention after Elon Musk criticized the spending on social media, claiming disaster relief funds were being misused and calling for recovery of the money. Meanwhile, Trump has continued pushing for sweeping FEMA reforms. During a visit to North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, he criticized the agency’s performance and emphasized his belief that states should take the lead in disaster response, arguing it would improve efficiency and reduce costs.
