Fired FEMA Chief Hamilton Exposes ‘Hostile’ Battle Over Agency’s Future Under Trump

Cameron Hamilton, the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has broken his silence in a recent podcast interview, detailing a “very hostile relationship” with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials over the Trump administration’s aggressive push to abolish the agency. Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL hired and subsequently fired by President Donald Trump in May, provided the first public account of the internal machinations that led to his dismissal and the deep divisions within the administration regarding the future of disaster response.

In his interview on the Disaster Tough Podcast, Hamilton revealed that the relationship with DHS became “adversarial” as officials pressed to shutter FEMA, a stance he publicly warned was “extremely unwise” and “divisive language.” He recounted being subjected to a lie detector test in March to determine if he had leaked information, an incident he cited as a turning point in the “hostile relationship.” Hamilton stated he passed the test but received no apology.

Hamilton’s firing on May 8 came just a day after he testified before the House Appropriations Committee, asserting, “I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.” He claims he knew his termination was imminent even before his testimony. The former chief also noted a disconnect, stating the White House was “shocked” to learn that FEMA programs had already been shut down or frozen, indicating a disparity between the president’s inner circle and DHS.

The revelations come amidst ongoing debate over FEMA’s role. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who co-chairs a FEMA Review Council established by Trump, has overseen significant cuts, including a 10 percent workforce reduction and the elimination of key grant programs. A group of nearly 200 current and former FEMA employees warned in late August about the “cascading effects” of these cuts.

Hamilton, who has since become a managing director at Longview International Technology Solutions, is now emerging as a vocal advocate for FEMA. He has publicly supported bipartisan legislation aimed at preserving and streamlining the agency, despite Trump’s stated intent to weaken FEMA and shift disaster response to states starting in 2026. Hamilton maintains he was never hired with the understanding that he would abolish FEMA, but rather to cut wasteful spending and make the agency more efficient.

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