Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton was fired, just one day after publicly disagreeing with President Trump’s vision to reform the bloated federal disaster agency.
The firing came just one day after Hamilton told Congress he did not believe eliminating FEMA was “in the best interests of the American people,” directly contradicting both DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump’s vision for streamlining government and empowering states.
FEMA officials confirmed Hamilton’s firing took place following a meeting with DHS Secretary Noem.
His replacement comes at a critical time, just weeks before the start of hurricane season on June 1.
This signals the administration’s determination to implement sweeping reforms to an agency that has faced criticism for its inefficiency and bloated bureaucracy.
The department also announced that David Richardson, a former DHS assistant secretary, will step in as interim administrator.
The dismissal aligns with President Trump’s long-standing critique of federal agencies that usurp state authority.
Secretary Noem made the administration’s position clear during her own congressional testimony, explaining that President Trump intends to eliminate FEMA in its current form to restore power to state governments.
This approach represents a fundamental shift from decades of growing federal control over disaster response and reflects conservative principles of limited government and local control.
“The president has indicated he wants to eliminate FEMA as it exists today, and to have states have more control over their emergency management response,” Noem said.
“He wants to empower local governments and support them and how they respond to their people,” she added.
This structural change to FEMA is part of President Trump’s broader mission to drain the Washington swamp and dismantle inefficient federal bureaucracies.
Moreover, the administration has established an executive order and review council specifically to evaluate FEMA’s future, with the goal of reducing federal involvement and taxpayer burden.
This strategy reflects the President’s business acumen and commitment to responsible governance, prioritizing efficiency over bureaucratic empire-building.
Predictably, Democrats have criticized the move. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) attacked Hamilton’s firing, framing it as retaliation for insufficient loyalty to Trump rather than acknowledging the legitimate policy disagreement.
Meanwhile, FEMA employees were notified of the leadership change by email, and over 200 agency employees have already been fired as part of the administration’s broader efforts to streamline government operations.
The plan to shift disaster response responsibilities to states represents a return to the Founding Fathers’ constitutional vision of federalism.
While some states claim they lack the resources to handle increased disaster response duties, proponents argue that eliminating the federal middleman will actually lead to more responsive and effective disaster management.
Direct funding to states, as proposed by President Trump, would bypass Washington bureaucracy and put resources where they are needed most.
Hamilton’s dismissal clearly conveys that the administration is serious about implementing President Trump’s vision for a smaller, more efficient government that respects state sovereignty.
The President continues demonstrating his resolve to fulfill campaign promises despite entrenched resistance from the federal bureaucracy by replacing leadership resisting these reforms with officials committed to the America First agenda.
