Cameron Hamilton was out Thursday as acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a day after he delivered testimony to Congress where he disagreed with President Trump’s plans to wind down the agency.
Mr. Hamilton told House Democrats he didn’t think FEMA should be eliminated, even as Mr. Trump has made clear he thinks the federal agency has gone off the rails.
David Richardson, assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction, has been tapped to fill the job.
Democrats said he was booted because he “told the truth” about Mr. Trump’s ideas.
“Clearly, this brainless idea – that Trump and Kristi Noem keep touting – is not faring well even in MAGA world,” said Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee.
Mr. Hamilton was prodded on the president’s plans during a hearing.
“As the senior adviser to the president on disasters and emergency management and to the secretary of Homeland Security, I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he said.
“Having said that, I’m not in a position to make decisions and impact outcomes on whether or not a determination such as consequential as that should be made. That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body,” he added.
That caveat did not prevent Democrats from highlighting his comments as a break with Mr. Trump.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking to lawmakers a day before Mr. Hamilton’s appearance, had defended the president’s plans.
“He wants to empower local governments and support them and how they respond to their people,” she said.
