Cameron Hamilton’s Exit from FEMA: A Story of Internal Clashes and Political Pressure

On May 7, just before heading to Capitol Hill to testify before Congress, acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton packed up his desk—fully expecting to be fired. That same morning, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA’s parent agency, had instructed the security team to revoke his credentials and prepare to escort him from the building. FEMA officials pushed back, warning that canceling Hamilton’s testimony would send a troubling signal about instability within the agency. Ultimately, he was allowed to testify.

During the hearing, Hamilton contradicted former President Donald Trump by rejecting the idea of dismantling FEMA, an idea Trump had publicly floated. His dismissal the next day was widely seen as punishment for that testimony. However, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters that Trump loyalists were already eager to remove Hamilton. They believed he wasn’t moving aggressively enough to strip down FEMA’s operations, despite his original appointment as a Trump supporter.

Longtime friend Matt Strickland emphasized that Hamilton knew well in advance that he’d be let go and was not fired specifically for his congressional appearance. DHS, for its part, denied that Hamilton had been fired, stating instead that he had transitioned to a new role at the Department of Education working on school safety and foreign influence in higher education.

Behind the scenes, internal disputes contributed to Hamilton’s ouster. He reportedly clashed with Corey Lewandowski, a close Trump adviser and key aide to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. One major flashpoint involved federal funds granted to New York City to house migrants—funds FEMA later reclaimed. Strickland, who publicly defended Hamilton online, claimed he was fired from his DHS contractor position soon afterward, though DHS said only his employer could terminate him.

Lewandowski denied any involvement in Hamilton’s removal, saying Hamilton had voluntarily taken a new position. Still, Hamilton’s departure came at a critical moment—just weeks before the official start of what’s expected to be an intense hurricane season. FEMA has been grappling with mass staff resignations and low morale, raising concerns about the agency’s preparedness.

Despite being a loyal Trump appointee, Hamilton reportedly began to soften his views on FEMA after getting to know its staff. While he still supported reform, he came to see the agency’s disaster relief mission as essential. In his early address to FEMA personnel, Hamilton acknowledged their expertise and promised to be their advocate—language that reportedly did not sit well with Lewandowski or Noem.

The internal conflict escalated in March when several FEMA employees were subjected to polygraph tests after a leak about a meeting involving Hamilton, Noem, and Lewandowski. In that meeting, Noem reportedly proposed gutting FEMA and shifting more disaster costs to states. Lewandowski allegedly accused Hamilton of leaking the information, and DHS soon demanded that Hamilton himself take a polygraph. He passed the test, but tensions remained high.

On May 8—one day after his testimony—Hamilton was officially fired in a short meeting with Lewandowski and DHS Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar. He was replaced by David Richardson, a Marine veteran with no prior experience in emergency management.