Just weeks before hurricane season begins, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was rocked Thursday when the acting administrator was fired and replaced by a different Department of Homeland Security officer.
The sudden shift occurred the day after Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who had been in the position for the past few months, testified on Capitol Hill that he disagreed with plans to dissolve a group that provides financial aid and aids in disaster planning.
“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he stated on Wednesday.
In response to hurricanes, tornadoes, and other emergencies, President Donald Trump has advocated for states to take the initiative rather than the federal government. His criticism of FEMA’s performance has been harsh, especially in North Carolina during Hurricane Helene.
FEMA will be temporarily led by former Marine Corps officer David Richardson, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. It seems that he has no prior experience dealing with natural calamities. He is presently the assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction at the Department of Homeland Security.
Regarding a possible permanent nominee, the government remained silent. Inquiries concerning Richardson’s background, the significance of Hamilton’s testimony, and if the president personally ordered his termination were also not addressed by the White House.
Hamilton was offered another government job that would be a better fit for him, according to an administration official who asked not to be named in order to discuss a personnel matter. However, the official did not specify what the other job would be.
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A brief email was sent to FEMA employees informing them of the leadership change.
According to Homeland Security, Trump created a review committee in January by executive order with the goal of “reforming and streamlining the nation’s emergency management and disaster response system.” Noem is joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the council’s 13-member chair.
Hamilton expressed issues with the administration of FEMA assistance during his hearing before a House Appropriations panel on Wednesday.
Additionally, he claimed that the organization had “become an overburdened federal bureaucracy, trying to handle every kind of emergency, no matter how minor.”
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However, Hamilton responded that he did not think FEMA should be abolished when Connecticut Democrat Rep. Rosa DeLauro asked him about the intentions to do so.
“Having said that,” Hamilton added, “I’m not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination such as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body.”
DeLauro defended Hamilton in a statement released Thursday afternoon, accusing the Republican president of dismissing “anyone who is not blindly loyal to him.”
“The Trump administration must explain why he has been removed from this position,” DeLauro stated. “Integrity and morality should not cost you your job.”
