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.
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) May 7, 2025
I’m grateful for his leadership.
Take a listen to his testimony today: pic.twitter.com/Tnu9ZZx6fo
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.”
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.
1 comment:
I have advocated for FEMA being a state level activity. Yes. Send the Federal funds. But each state is uniquely poised to understand and meet the needs of their citizens. By releasing the power of the state to move on behalf of citizens it also brings greater accountability and transparency. States that will be good stewards (like Texas) will do well. Corrupt states like New Mexico - will be brought to account when showing lack of stewardship.
Post a Comment