Trump fires FEMA official amid a high-stakes push to shrink federal disaster response roles and shift heavy responsibilities directly to state governments.
Hamilton’s dismissal comes as the Trump administration considers major changes to the federal government’s role in emergency management. The administration has argued that states should assume greater responsibility for preparing for and responding to disasters, potentially reducing FEMA’s role and limiting federal involvement.
During testimony before Congress, Hamilton emphasized the importance of FEMA’s ability to coordinate national disaster responses and provide assistance when emergencies overwhelm state and local resources. His comments reportedly conflicted with the administration’s broader effort to restructure the agency.