The acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cameron Hamilton, has been ousted from his position by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
According to Reuters, only a day before he was fired, Hamilton reportedly told U.S. lawmakers that he did not support the elimination of the agency.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL appointed to lead FEMA at the onset of President Donald Trump’s second term in January, will be succeeded by David Richardson, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency.
President Donald Trump and Noem have both openly stated they would be willing to eliminate FEMA in its entirety.
Hamilton said during the hearing Wednesday that he does not “believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
Hamilton had spearheaded initiatives to reform the agency, including a proposal to scale back FEMA assistance for less severe disasters. His removal comes as FEMA traditionally works with states and local communities to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, which begins on June 1.
David Richardson will be assuming his role as FEMA’s head effective Thursday, according to a FEMA spokesperson.
