Cameron Hamilton’s Exit from FEMA: A Story of Internal Clashes and Political Pressure

On May 7, just before heading to Capitol Hill to testify before Congress, acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton packed up his desk—fully expecting to be fired. That same morning, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA’s parent agency, had instructed the security team to revoke his credentials and prepare to escort him from the building. FEMA officials pushed back, warning that canceling Hamilton’s testimony would send a troubling signal about instability within the agency. Ultimately, he was allowed to testify.