Trump administration replaces FEMA acting administrator with retired Marine

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration changed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s acting administrator on shift to states for disaster response.

The Department of Homeland Security fired Cameron Hamilton Thursday after he contradicted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s suggestion to eliminate FEMA.

“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people,” Hamilton said Wednesday before the House Appropriations subcommittee.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t attribute the statement as the reason for the firing, but she did acknowledge the conflict.

“We want to make sure that people in every position are advancing the administration’s goals,” Leavitt said during a news conference.

Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomed the idea after Trump suggested that disaster response should not be left to the federal government but to the states.

DHS replaced Hamilton with David Richardson, a retired Marine Corps officer with a mission to implement cost-sharing with states.

The leadership change comes weeks away from the Atlantic hurricane season, which starts June 1 with a forecast for more than average activity until Nov. 30.

“Obfuscation. Delay. Undermining. If you’re one of those 20% of the people and you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not because I will run right over you. I will achieve the president’s intent,” Richardson allegedly told the FEMA staff Friday.

Richardson, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa, was the DHS assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction.