FEMA head ousted one day after saying eliminating agency not in public's interest

The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was fired Thursday, one day after telling lawmakers he did not think it was in the public's interest to eliminate the agency.

A FEMA spokesperson confirmed Cameron Hamilton was no longer serving as acting administrator. That role is now being filled by David Richardson, who was appointed in January as assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

Politico first reported on Hamilton's firing.

Hamilton testified on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where he was asked about the push from the Trump administration to get rid of FEMA and largely turn over disaster response to the states.

"I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton told lawmakers.

He added that he was not in a position to make such a decision and that it should be between the White House and Congress to determine what was the most logical use of federal funding for emergency response.

Hamilton's ouster also comes just weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

President Trump suggested days after taking office that FEMA should be eliminated or dramatically overhauled.

The president's skinny budget proposal calls for $646 million in cuts to FEMA it argues fund “equity” in disaster response.

“The president has indicated he wants to eliminate FEMA as it exists today, and to have states have more control over their emergency management response," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told lawmakers this week. "He wants to empower local governments and support them and how they respond to their people."