Cameron Hamilton, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was removed from his position after testifying to Congress against the elimination of FEMA.

Hamilton’s dismissal came after his public opposition to President Trump’s push to reduce FEMA’s role and shift disaster relief responsibilities to state governments. David Richardson, a career FEMA official, was named as his interim replacement.

What Happened

Hamilton testified before Congress that dismantling FEMA would undermine the nation’s disaster response capabilities. The administration swiftly confirmed his removal, signaling its intent to proceed with restructuring federal emergency management operations.

The firing follows previous controversies at the agency, including the termination of officials linked to a $59 million expenditure for temporary housing of undocumented immigrants in high-end hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Administration’s Position

Trump has criticized FEMA’s spending and operational performance, arguing that states possess greater capacity to manage disaster responses independently. The administration characterizes the reorganization as a cost-reduction effort designed to improve emergency response efficiency.

Officials contend that decentralizing disaster management would eliminate redundancies in the federal system and empower state authorities to address regional emergencies more effectively.

The Pushback

Career emergency response professionals have resisted the proposed changes, with Hamilton’s testimony representing direct opposition from within the agency itself. Critics warn that many states lack the financial and logistical resources to independently manage large-scale disasters.

This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.