By Nathan Layne and Leah Douglas
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Cameron Hamilton, the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been ousted from his position by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a day after he told lawmakers in a hearing that he did not support eliminating his agency.
The leadership change comes at a time when the agency, which is in charge of coordinating the federal government’s response to disasters, is helping states and local communities prepare for the onset of hurricane season on June 1.
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who was tapped to lead FEMA in January at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, will be replaced by David Richardson, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency.
Trump and Noem have been sharply critical of FEMA and both have suggested shrinking or eliminating the agency entirely.
During a congressional hearing on Wednesday, Hamilton said, “I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
Hamilton added that it was not his role to make that decision.
“That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body,” he said.
Hamilton had been leading efforts to reform the agency and had proposed reducing FEMA assistance to states for less serious disasters. The Trump administration has denied federal aid to several states including Arkansas, which was slammed by tornadoes in March.
A FEMA spokesperson said Richardson was assuming the top position at the agency effective Thursday. The spokesperson did not provide a reason for the change.
Richardson, who did not immediately respond to call or email requests for comment, is a former Marine officer and combat veteran, according to his DHS profile. He was most recently leading the DHS’ Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
Hamilton was seen by some FEMA officials as a leader who was supportive of the agency and who understood the importance of its work, despite Trump’s public criticism of it.
Hamilton’s image had been missing from FEMA’s intranet for several days, leading some staff to suspect he would be leaving, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.
On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Mark Green, chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, posted on X that Hamilton “has done a fantastic job.”
Hamilton reposted the comment on Thursday morning, adding, “Thank you, I look forward to our continued work.”
(Reporting by Nathan Layne and Leah Douglas; Additional reporting by Tim Reid; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis)
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