FEMA Acting Administrator Ousted Following Congressional Testimony on Agency’s Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was fired on May 8, 2025, after publicly opposing the potential dismantling of the agency during a House Appropriations Committee hearing a day earlier. Cameron Hamilton, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, was escorted out of FEMA’s headquarters following his testimony.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Hamilton’s dismissal, citing that it is at the discretion of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to choose her personnel. McLaughlin did not elaborate on the reasons for Hamilton’s removal, but stated that David Richardson will succeed him effective immediately.

In his testimony before the committee, Hamilton defended FEMA’s mission, asserting, “I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” He urged that discussions about the agency’s future needed to involve both the President and Congress.

The political atmosphere has been tense as both Trump and Noem have criticized FEMA for its management of disaster response, leading to calls for its elimination. “President Trump has been very clear that he believes FEMA has failed the American people and should be eliminated,” Noem reiterated the day prior in front of the same committee.

While Hamilton acknowledged challenges within FEMA, he maintained support for its workforce, calling them “one of the greatest workforces in the entire federal government.” He emphasized the importance of reforming the agency’s systemic inefficiencies rather than shutting it down.

In recent months, Hamilton noted that FEMA has faced scrutiny for what the administration labels as inefficiencies and waste. He contended that some of the agency’s roles should be shifted to state and local governments to reduce dependency on federal assistance.

Despite the administration’s push for cuts and reforms, Hamilton cautioned against rapid changes, advocating for a phased approach to reforming services: “This will not be a radical transition in an instant,” he stated.

Before his ousting, Hamilton participated in a closed-door meeting with top DHS officials concerning FEMA’s future. Reports indicate that he, among others, underwent a lie detector test related to allegations of leaking information about this meeting.