FEMA’s acting administrator is replaced a day after congressional testimony
May 8, 2025, 11:59 AM
Cam Hamilton acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations dubcommittee on Homeland Security oversight hearing of FEMA on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Trump administration’s Homeland Security chief has replaced the acting administrator of the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency as its continuing existence remains up in the air, an agency spokesperson said Thursday.
Cameron Hamilton will be replaced by another acting administrator, David Richardson, the spokesperson said.
The news comes at a moment of uncertainty over FEMA鈥檚 future. President Donald Trump has floated 鈥済etting rid鈥� of FEMA, an idea Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has echoed.
It’s unclear why Hamilton was replaced, but the move comes a day after he appeared before a House Appropriations subcommittee and advocated for FEMA鈥檚 continuing existence.
鈥淚 do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton said Wednesday.
Last month, Trump, a Republican, created a review council tasked with 鈥渞eforming and streamlining the nation鈥檚 emergency management and disaster response system,鈥� according to Homeland Security.
Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer, was appointed in January as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security鈥檚 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
FEMA staff were told Thursday afternoon about the change in a bare-bones email.
