On May 7, just hours before he was scheduled to testify before Congress, acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton quietly packed up his office, anticipating the end of his tenure. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had already ordered the revocation of his security credentials. However, FEMA leadership insisted he be allowed to fulfill his obligation to testify before lawmakers.

During the hearing, Hamilton openly contradicted former President Donald Trump’s agenda by opposing proposals to dismantle or significantly scale down FEMA. His remarks reportedly sealed his fate.

Although DHS later claimed Hamilton had simply transitioned to a new role within the Department of Education, multiple sources confirm that Trump loyalists had long sought his removal. Their frustration stemmed from Hamilton’s reluctance to aggressively downsize FEMA, despite internal pressure to do so.

Behind the scenes, Hamilton had clashed repeatedly with senior administration figures, including Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Disagreements centered on FEMA’s budget, disaster relief strategy, and the future direction of the agency. A leaked internal memo in March — outlining extreme cuts to FEMA operations — led to a controversial round of polygraph testing among top staff. Hamilton passed, but the episode deepened mistrust within the department.

On May 8, the day after his testimony, Hamilton was formally dismissed in a private meeting with Lewandowski and senior DHS officials. He was replaced by David Richardson, a Marine Corps veteran who, notably, lacks any prior experience in emergency management.

Hamilton’s abrupt ousting has sent shockwaves through FEMA, where morale is already low and staffing shortfalls are a growing concern — particularly with hurricane season looming. His departure is being widely interpreted as politically motivated, reinforcing concerns over the administration’s efforts to reshape federal disaster response along ideological lines.