Acting FEMA administrator Cam Hamilton testified before the House Appropriations Committee that contrary to President Trump’s recommendations, the agency should not be eliminated. Jose Luis Magana/AP/FR159526 AP Closed subtitles
Cameron Hamilton, acting administrator for federal emergency management agency Cameron Hamilton, has been replaced, according to a statement from the agency. The move took place during the turbulent times of FEMA after President Trump repeatedly stated that the country's main disaster response agencies should be eliminated.
Just a day ago, Hamilton testified at a congressional hearing that while FEMA needs efficiency and “meaningful reform,” its core goal is to “focus on survivors.”
“I think it is not in the best interest of the American people who eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” Hamilton testify.
Earlier this week, Trump administration officials at the agency oversaw FEMA reiterated Trump’s desire to get rid of the agency.
"President Trump has been very clear since the beginning that he believes the FEMA and its response in many cases have failed the American people, and the FEMA that exists today should be eliminated," said Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security.
The FEMA confirmed Hamilton's departure in a statement and said that Department of Homeland Security official David Richardson will step in acting FEMA administrator.
The agency will enter the most demanding time of the year, with the Atlantic hurricane season officially beginning in three weeks and the summer wildfire season on its way
More than 200 FEMA employees Fired By the Trump administration in February, hundreds more said they plan to leave the agency by accepting an offer to defer a resignation. Disaster experts say this summer, when the agency relies on its entire staff to respond and deploy disasters, it could hinder FEMA’s work.
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The Trump administration is seeking to pass Transfer responsibility for disaster response Go to the United States. Local and state governments are already responsible for responding to disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires, but they ask for help from the federal government when emergencies exceed local capabilities.
trump card Signed an executive order Hamilton said the focus on state responsibility would ease the “burden for taxpayers” and said at a congressional hearing Wednesday that the bar for federal participation should be raised. Trump has it too Appointment of the Review Committee Make suggestions for the future of FEMA.
Many states say they currently do not have the personnel or resources to receive more disaster responses. Last year, major disasters such as Hurricane Helene require thousands of employees to find survivors, build shelters and assist disasters in the process of requesting. The country is also seeing more and more disasters causing more than $1 billion in losses as storms, hurricanes and wildfires become more intense as climate changes.
Democratic Congresswoman Rosa Delauro asked Hamilton about eliminating FEMA at a hearing on Wednesday, asking for answers about his departure.
"President Trump fired anyone who is not blindly loyal to him," Druro said in a statement. "Integrity and morality should not cost your job, and if you do, it speaks more about your employer than your employer."