Cameron Hamilton’s Exit from FEMA: Internal Clashes and Political Pressure
On May 7, just before testifying to Congress, acting FEMA head Cameron Hamilton packed up his desk, expecting to be fired. DHS had prepped to revoke his credentials, but FEMA staff pushed back, allowing him to testify.
During the hearing, Hamilton rejected former President Trump’s idea to dismantle FEMA. He was fired the next day—widely seen as retribution. However, insiders say Trump loyalists already viewed him as too slow in downsizing FEMA, despite being a Trump appointee.
Friend Matt Strickland said Hamilton knew he’d be let go and wasn’t fired for his testimony. DHS claimed he simply moved to a new role at the Education Department.
Hamilton reportedly clashed with Trump ally Corey Lewandowski, especially over FEMA funds for NYC migrants. Strickland, who defended Hamilton publicly, was later fired from his contractor job—though DHS denied involvement.
Lewandowski denied orchestrating Hamilton’s ouster, but the firing came just before hurricane season, as FEMA faces low morale and high staff turnover. Though initially aligned with Trump, Hamilton had grown to value FEMA’s mission, a shift that didn’t sit well with some administration figures.
Tensions escalated after a leak about a meeting where Noem proposed cutting FEMA’s role. Hamilton passed a polygraph but was fired on May 8, replaced by David Richardson, a Marine vet with no emergency management experience.
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