As he exited his role, the recently dismissed acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publicly defended the agency’s disaster response record under the Biden administration while also criticizing aspects of the Trump administration’s approach. Cameron Hamilton was summoned to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was officially removed from his position. The dismissal was carried out by Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Hamilton’s firing came just one day after he testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee. During the hearing, he appeared to push back against recent remarks from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had suggested the possibility of eliminating FEMA and redirecting its funding to state-level emergency management systems—an idea Trump has openly supported.
“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton told lawmakers during his testimony.
FEMA later confirmed the leadership change, announcing that David Richardson would step in as the Senior Official performing the duties of FEMA Administrator. A spokesperson stated that Hamilton was no longer serving in the role.
According to reports, Hamilton— a former Navy SEAL—had previously considered resigning as the Trump administration took shape but ultimately chose to remain after encouragement from FEMA staff.
His departure follows a broader shakeup within the agency. Shortly after taking office, the Trump administration’s DHS dismissed four FEMA employees over what officials described as an “egregious” misuse of funds. The employees were accused of bypassing leadership to authorize payments for housing migrants in New York City hotels.
The controversy intensified after Elon Musk claimed on social media that FEMA had allocated $59 million in a single week to house migrants in what he described as “luxury hotels.” He argued that the funds were intended for disaster relief and should instead support American citizens affected by emergencies. DHS officials indicated that efforts would be made to recover the money.
These developments come amid Trump’s broader push to overhaul FEMA. During a visit to North Carolina—where communities are still recovering from Hurricane Helene—Trump criticized the agency’s performance and suggested it may need to be fundamentally restructured or even eliminated.
“FEMA has really let us down,” Trump said, adding that disaster response could be handled more effectively at the state level. He argued that local governments are better positioned to respond quickly and efficiently, often at a lower cost.
Trump pledged that his administration would accelerate recovery efforts in North Carolina and work closely with local leaders, emphasizing a shift toward greater state responsibility in managing natural disasters.
