Acting FEMA director replaced after saying he doesn't want to dismantle agency

Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA'

President Donald Trump is proposing getting rid of FEMA and instead have the states take care of their residents, and the federal government would instead provide checks to the states. In January, LiveNOW's Austin Westfall discussed how Florida lawmakers are responding to this proposal with FOX 13 Tampa's Evyn Moon.

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been replaced after testifying that he didn’t want to see the agency eliminated – as proposed by President Donald Trump. 

Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL who held the job for the last few months, testified on Capitol Hill that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle an organization that helps plan for natural disasters and distributes financial assistance. 

"I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton said Wednesday.

Why was the head of FEMA ousted? 

What we know:

Following his testimony, Hamilton was abruptly removed from his position just weeks before the start of hurricane season. He was replaced by David Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. Richardson does not appear to have any experience in managing natural disasters. He currently serves as the Department of Homeland Security's assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction.

RELATED: Trump’s executive order gives states more control during disaster response

FEMA staff were notified of the change in leadership through a brief email.

What we don't know:

The administration hasn’t said who they may nominate as the permanent FEMA administrator. The White House also didn’t answer questions about Richardson's background, the impact of Hamilton's testimony or whether the president personally ordered his dismissal.
An unnamed administration official told The Associated Press that Hamilton was offered another government job that would be a better fit for him, but did not say what that job would be.

What they're saying:

During Hamilton's appearance before a House Appropriations subcommittee Wednesday, he shared concerns about how FEMA assistance is administered. He also said the agency had "evolved into an overextended federal bureaucracy, attempting to manage every type of emergency no matter how minor."

But when Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, asked Hamilton how he felt about plans to eliminate FEMA, Hamilton said he did not believe the agency should be eliminated.

The other side: In a statement Thursday afternoon, DeLauro expressed support for Hamilton and accused the Republican president of firing "anyone who is not blindly loyal to him."

Why does Trump want to dismantle FEMA? 

FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Photographer: Erin Scott/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The backstory:

President Donald Trump has suggested that individual states, not the federal government, should take the lead on hurricanes, tornadoes and other crises. He has been sharply critical of FEMA's performance, particularly in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

What's next:

Through a January executive order, Trump established a review council tasked with "reforming and streamlining the nation’s emergency management and disaster response system," according to Homeland Security. The 13-member council is chaired by Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.